Three claims challenging the elections of Senators Aliyu Wamakko, Abdussamad Dasuki, and Bala Hassan were denied by the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Sokoto State on Friday.
On the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Wamakko represents the Sokoto North Senatorial District, whereas Dasuki of the Peoples Democratic Party represents the Tambuwal/Kebbe Federal Constituency in Sokoto.
Under the auspices of the APC, Hassan also represents the Sokoto North/Sokoto South Federal Constituency.
Judge Josephine Oyefeso, the panel’s chair, read the unanimous decision on behalf of Justices Haruna Muhammad and Eke Eze. It affirmed the elections and rejected the petitions due to their lack of substance.
According to Oyefeso, the petitioners failed to provide the necessary proof, as required by law, to support the claims made in the petitions.
She stated that it was the petitioners’ responsibility to provide proof of their petition and that the evidence and witnesses offered were insufficiently concrete to challenge the electoral body’s rulings.
Former Sokoto State Deputy Governor Manir Dan’iya, a PDP contender on February 25, 2023, disputed Wamakko’s election in court and asked the tribunal to deem him the rightful winner and validly elected senator.
He contended that Wamakko was ineligible to run for office since the election disregarded electoral standards and he failed to affix copies of his credentials on forms submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
APC member Bala Kokani also contested Dasuki’s election, arguing that Dasuki did not receive the majority of valid votes cast in the polls on February 25.
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