THE Appeal Court has nullified the election of Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
Thursday’s ruling comes six months after the governorship election in the North-Western state.
Lawal, a candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party – PDP, recorded a shocking victory in the March 18 election dislodging then-incumbent Bello Mattawalle of the All Progressives Congress – APC.
The PDP candidate, now serving as the Minister of State for Defence, had accused the Independent National Electoral Commission – INEC, of subverting his victory at the poll by failing to include the results of some ward areas.
But in an earlier ruling on September 18, the Zamfara Election Petitions Tribunal held that the petition was devoid of merit. While upholding Lawal’s victory, the tribunal awarded the N500,000 fine against the petitioners.
An unsatisfied Mattawalle, as observers expected, took the matter to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, to challenge the decision of the lower court.
On Thursday, a three-member panel led by Justice Oyebisi Folayemi, nullified the return of Governor Lawal as the winner of the governorship poll.
