In a significant ruling, the Zamfara State Election Petition Tribunal, presided over by Chairman Justice Cordelia Ogadi, reaffirmed the election of Governor Dauda Lawal as the legitimate Governor of Zamfara State. The tribunal, which convened in Sokoto, decisively dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Bello Muhammad Mutawalle, challenging the outcome of the March 18 Governorship election, citing a lack of substantive evidence and negligible impact.
The tribunal’s verdict came as a blow to Mutawalle, the former Governor of Zamfara State, who had sought to overturn the election results. In a sharp turn of events, Justice Ogadi imposed a fine of N500,000 on Mutawalle, emphasizing the flimsy nature of his claims.
During the reading of the judgment, Justice Ogadi highlighted that the petitioner failed to conclusively establish allegations of wrongful collation of results, the exclusion of results from Maradun local government area, and the alleged absence of elections in certain wards within the state. The tribunal found that these allegations were not substantiated beyond reasonable doubt.
In response to the verdict, Ishaka Dikko, representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), expressed confidence in the tribunal’s decision. He stated that INEC had conducted a transparent, equitable, and credible election in Zamfara State, countering the allegations made by the APC Gubernatorial candidate, Matawallen Maradun.
This tribunal ruling marks a pivotal moment in Zamfara State’s political landscape, solidifying Governor Dauda Lawal’s position as the duly elected leader and underscoring the significance of credible and transparent electoral processes in Nigeria.
