A governorship aspirant in Sokoto State, Senator Umaru Dahiru, on Monday, asked the Federal High Court in Abuja, to annul the governorship ticket given to Speaker of the House of Assembly, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tambuwal was declared winner of the Sokoto State governorship election, held on March 28 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Dahiru contended that Tambuwal’s emergence as the APC’s governorship standard-bearer in the primaries held on December 14, 2014, was irregular.

Tambuwal told the court sitting before Justice Elvis Chukwu, on Monday that Dahiru was only wasting his time, arguing that his prayers in the pre-election suit he filed to stop him from participating in the election had been overtaken by events, having not only participated in the election, but also emerged victorious.

Tambuwal’s lawyer, Mr E Okutepa, consequently made a formal application to the court on Monday that parties in the case be made to address the court on whether or not issues raised in Senator Dahiru’s case had not become dead with the emergence of Tambuwal as Sokoto State governor.

He said the need to address the issue became necessary, in view of the fact that proceeding with a case with no life issue would amount to mere academic exercise.

Mr Sunday Ameh, who represented APC also aligned with Okutepa’s argument, but Professor Awa Kalu, who represented Senator Dahiru, told the court that the issues raised in the suit were still alive and that Tambuwal was only expressing his wishful thinking.

The trial judge, Justice Chukwu, consequently, gave Tambuwal five days to file his paper and another five days to Senator Dahiru to respond, while he gave Tambuwal additional three days to respond on points of law.

Justice Chukwu also fixed April 27 for parties to adopt their briefs.

It will be recalled that Senator Dahiru had sued Tambuwal after the December 14 primaries in Sokoto, where the Speaker emerged as the standard-bearer of APC.

He had contended that the primaries which produced Tambuwal breached the provisions of 2010 Electoral Act and the APC’s electoral guidelines.

The suit, which was filed by Awa Kalu on behalf of Dahiru, specifically requested for an order restraining INEC from placing Tambuwal’s name on the ballot for the 2015 governorship election pending the holding of fresh governorship primaries by APC.

Also listed as co-plaintiff in the case is Mr Aliyu Abubakar Sanyinna, while the APC, Tambuwal and INEC were named as defendants.

The plaintiffs alleged that it was unlawful for INEC to act on a candidate nominated by the APC when such a candidate was elected in violation of the Electoral Act 2010 and the electoral guidelines established by the APC.

*Adapted from Nigerian Tribune. Photo shows Tambuwal

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