Sokoto guber poll: Court adjourns hearing till February 28

The Federal High Court Abuja, on Monday adjourned hearing till Feb. 28 in a fresh suit seeking to remove the Sokoto State Governor. Aminu Tambuwal from office.

The suit is in compliance with the Supreme Court ruling of Dec. 9, 2016, which ordered the court to retry the case on its merit and make decisions as demanded by law.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole adjourned the matter at the instance of the plaintiff’s  counsel, Ikoro M. Ikoro,  for the determination of the plaintiff’s motion.

The plaintiff, Umaru Dahiru, is seeking nullification of Tambuwal’s nomination as All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2015 governorship election in the state.

Ikoro who confirmed receipt of the counter motion said he needed a short adjournment to enable him respond to the counter affidavit.

He informed the court that he had filed a motion dated Jan.31 to amend the reliefs being sought in the originating summon.

The counsel said that he wanted some reliefs to be deleted from the originating summon having been overtaken by events.

However, Mr Jibrim okutepa(SAN) and Mr Sunday Ameh(SAN) counsel to APC and Tambuwal, respectively, said they have filed a counter affidavit  to object to attempt to amend the originating summon.

In the fresh court action, the plaintiff hinged his case on the ground that the Dec. 4 primary election was conducted in gross violation of Section 87 of the 2010 Electoral Act and the APC 2014 Election Guidelines.

He also sought court declaration that it is unlawful for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to act on a candidate nominated by the APC for the purpose of general candidate.

He said it is unlawful when such a candidate was elected in violation of electoral guidelines established by the APC itself.

Dahiru also asked the court to declare that in the circumstances of the primary election, Tambuwal is not entitled to be returned as the governorship candidate of the APC for the Sokoto State governorship conducted in April 11, 2015.