Appeal Court Sacks Governor Dauda Lawal, Declares Zamfara Guber Election Inconclusive

Appeal Court Sacks Governor Dauda Lawal, Declares Zamfara Guber Election Inconclusive

  • The federal court of appeal in Abuja has sacked Dauda Lawal as governor of Zamfara State and ordered a rerun
  • On Thursday, November 16, a three-member panel of justices ruled that the rerun of the election would be held in three local government areas
  • These local government areas were listed as Maradun, Birnin-Magaji, and Bukyun to determine the actual winner of the gubernatorial poll

Legit.ng journalist Segun Adeyemi has over 9 years of experience covering political events, civil society, courts, and metro

FCT, Abuja - The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday, November 16, announced the Zamfara State Governorship Election as inconclusive.

In its verdict, the court mandated a re-run in three specific Local Government Areas: Maradun, Birnin-Magaji, and Bukyun.

APC, PDP, Appeal Court
The court mandated a re-run election in three local governments of the state. Photo Credit: Dr Bello Matawalle/Dauda Lawal
Source: Facebook

As reported by Channels TV, the court asserted that the Zamfara State Election Petitions Tribunal failed to assess the evidence presented by the appellants thoroughly.

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Additionally, the court rejected the results submitted by the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Maradun Local Government.

Recall that Lawal emerged victorious in the March 18 governorship election, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, Bello Matawalle from the All Progressives Congress (APC) contested Lawal's win, as he ran on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.

Despite the tribunal affirming Lawal's election, Matawalle, currently serving as the Minister of State for Defence, has taken the case to the Appeal Court.

Matawale vs Lawal: Tinubu’s minister breaks silence on plots to get him sacked

In another report, the minister of state for defence, Bello Matawalle, has responded to the allegations of embezzlement against him.

The former Zamfara state governor said the allegations were schemes used by Governor Dauda Lawal to tarnish his legacy.

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He said the incumbent governor was not pleased that he was appointed minister in President Bola Tinubu's cabinet.

Zamfara govt accuses Tinubu’s minister Matawalle of squandering over N1bn

Meanwhile, Matawalle has been caught in the web of fresh allegations.

The Zamfara state government accused the ex-governor of squandering over N1 billion on an abandoned project.

The state government claimed the contract for the abandoned project was awarded during Matawalle's administration in 2020.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Segun Adeyemi avatar

Segun Adeyemi (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Segun Adeyemi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience as an active field reporter, editor, and editorial manager. He has had stints with Daily Trust newspaper, Daily Nigerian, and News Digest. He currently works as an editor for Legit.ng's current affairs and politics desk. He holds a degree in Mass Communication (Adekunle Ajasin University). He is a certified digital reporter by Reuters, AFP and the co-convener of the annual campus journalism awards. Email: segun.adeyemi@corp.legit.ng.