The Sokoto state Election Petition Tribunal has received a total of 17 petitions, including one for the governorship election and 16 for the House of Assembly elections, from contestants within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). These petitions challenge the outcome of the March 18, 2023 elections. As of now, no dates have been fixed for the commencement of hearings on the various petitions.
The APC filed petitions for ten House of Assembly seats, including Shagari, Sokoto North, Tureta, Bodinga North, Tambuwal East, Gada, Silame, Goronyo, Isa, and Tambuwal West constituencies. Meanwhile, the PDP filed one petition for the governorship and six for the House of Assembly seats in Sokoto South II, Sabon Birni North, Sabon Birni South, Binji, Kebbe, and Kware constituencies.
According to the Secretary of the Tribunal, Sunday Martins, the petitions’ counsels are yet to receive the hearing dates. The tribunal recently started service on the Petitioners’ lawyer, and some of the addresses are as far as Abuja. Therefore, they will serve all counsels within the week before setting the hearing dates.
The tribunal is committed to conducting a fair and just hearing and avoiding back-and-forth excuses. The Tribunal’s scribe urged the aggrieved parties to remain calm and trust the legal process to take its course.
The Sokoto state Election Petition Tribunal is set to examine the various petitions filed by APC and PDP contestants. While hearing dates have yet to be fixed, the tribunal assures the public that it will conduct a fair and just hearing