Article: The Court of Appeal in Abuja issued a declaration on Thursday, pronouncing the Zamfara State governorship election held on March 18 as inconclusive. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had initially announced Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the victor on March 20, surpassing the incumbent governor, Bello Matawalle, who also serves as the Minister of State for Defence.
In response to the outcome, Matawalle contested the results, alleging widespread fraud during the electoral process. However, the state election petition tribunal dismissed the petition on September 18, prompting the former governor to escalate the matter to the Court of Appeal.
The recent ruling by the Court of Appeal has mandated a rerun election in three critical local government areas: Maradun, Birnin-Magaji, and Bukyun within Zamfara State. Additionally, the panel invalidated the results submitted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC for Maradun Local Government Area, citing the tribunal’s failure to consider crucial evidence presented by the APC in its petition.
