Senator Wamakko begs Tribunal to strike out PDP’s petition against his reelection

Senator Aliyu Wamakko has urged the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Sokoto State to strike out the petition filed by the Sokoto North Senatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ahmed Mohammed Maccido.

According to Wamakko, a former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Maccido’s petition challenging his victory was filed out of the required constitutional timeframe.

Wamakko’s lead counsel, Dr. Hassan Liman SAN, in an application prayed the court to strike out the petition filed by Maccido.

Liman further submitted that the petition contravenes the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

According to him, “Section 285, sub section 5 of the constitution requires such petitions to be filed 21 days after the date of the declaration of the results of the election.

“The petitioner filed the petition on March 18, 2019, which is clearly outside the 21 days required by the law.

“We have therefore urged the tribunal to strike out the petition, no matter how good it is. Wamakko has won his election validly in accordance with the provisions of the constitution.”

Both the lead counsel of the second respondent (APC), Chief Jacob Ochidi, and that of the third respondent (INEC), Henry Eni-Otu, aligned themselves with the submissions of Liman, and urged the court to strike out the petition.

Lead counsel for Maccido, Ibrahim Abdullahi, had argued that the petition was filed within the stipulated time.

The tribunal Chairman, Justice Peter Akhimie Akhihiero, adjourned the pre-hearing session to May, 10, 2019, for continuation.

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