BREAKING: Tribunal Upholds Dauda Lawal's Election as Zamfara Governor, Quashes Matawalle's Petition

• A governorship election tribunal sitting in Sokoto has affirmed the election of Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state
• The three-man panel led by Justice Cordelia Ogadi dismissed the petition filed by former governor Bello Matawalle
• Matawalle had alleged that the March 18 election was marred by irregularities and that Lawal did not score the majority of the lawful votes

Gusau, Zamfara state - The Zamfara state election petition tribunal sitting in Sokoto state on Monday, September 18, affirmed the election of Dauda Lawal as the governor of the state.

Per Channels Television, the court dismissed the petition filed by the immediate past governor, Bello Matawalle, challenging the validity of the election results that brought the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate into office.

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Matawalle is a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Zamfara: Tribunal dismisses Matawalle’s case

Reacting to the tribunal's judgement, Lawal's spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said the development represents an overwhelming decision of the people, a report by The Sun noted.

The statement partly reads:

“The judgement was not surprising but rather an affirmation of the collective decision made by the unwavering people of Zamfara.

“The judgement will encourage Governor Lawal to continue with his resolve to fulfil his mandate and work tirelessly to ensure that the people of Zamfara state experience the benefits of good governance."

Tribunal reserves judgement in Matawalle’s petition

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the tribunal reserved judgement in a petition challenging the victory of Lawal at the March 18 gubernatorial election.

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Matawalle’s counsel, Usman Sule, said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) excluded the result sheet of 98,564 votes in the Maradun LGA of the state.

He also said the electoral body declared a winner when elections were not concluded in some council areas of the state.

Pressure piles on Lawal to resign

Legit.ng earlier reported calls for Lawal's resignation amid the insecurity confronting the state.

Matawalle's spokesperson, Abdullah Anas Kaura, made the call recently.

Kaura accused the governor of allowing non-indigenes of the state to control the affairs of Zamfara, "thereby causing friction and turbulence".

Source: Legit.ng