S’Court sets aside Appeal Court judgment, reinstates Zamfara Gov. Lawal

There will be no re-run election in Zamfara State as ordered by the Appeal Court, Mr. Dauda Lawal, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is the duly elected Governor of the state, the nation’s Supreme Court has ruled.

Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the lead judgment of the justices, described the judgment of the court of appeal as perverse.

He said: “The decision of the Court of Appeal has no evidential foundation, the judgment of the Court of Appeal delivered in November is set aside.

“The order setting aside the appellant’s election is set aside, and the election of the appellant is upheld.”

Persecondnews recalls that the Court of Appeal in Abuja had nullified the March 18 governorship election won by Lawal of the PDP and ordered a rerun in three local government areas.

Lawal in a victory that dislodged the then incumbent, Mr. Bello Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled a total of 377,726 votes, while Matawalle scored 311,976 votes.

INEC declared Lawal winner of the election which prompted Matawalle to challenge the result at the election tribunal.

In a ruling on September 18, 2023, the Zamfara Election Petitions Tribunal held that the petition by Matawalle was devoid of merit, and upheld Lawal’s election.