Tobias Sylvester
The Supreme Court has validated Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the legitimately elected governor of Zamfara state.
In March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Lawal as the winner of the Zamfara governorship election with 377,726 votes.
Bello Matawalle, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, who received 311,976 votes, contested the results, accusing INEC of omitting some ward results and subverting his victory.
In September 2023, the tribunal dismissed Matawalle’s petition, deeming it without merit and imposing a N500,000 fine against the petitioners.
Subsequently, in November 2023, the Abuja Court of Appeal declared the Zamfara governorship election inconclusive.
The three-member panel annulled Lawal’s victory, ordering a fresh election in Maradun, Birnin-Magaji, and Bukyun local governments.
On January 12, 2024, the Supreme Court’s five-member panel overturned the court of appeal’s decision, describing it as “perverse.”
The ruling favored the appeal filed by Dauda Lawal and the PDP, affirming his victory in the Zamfara gubernatorial election.
KanyiDaily recalls that the Supreme Court also validated Abba Yusuf’s election, reinstating him as the duly elected governor of Kano state.
