The Zamfara State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the governor of the state.
The tribunal has dismissed the petition filed by Bello Matawalle, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, challenging Lawal’s victory on the grounds of lacking merit.
As a result of this decision, the petitioner, Matawalle, has been ordered to pay a cost of N500,000.
The unanimous judgment was delivered by the three-member panel, consisting of Justice Cordelia Ogadi, Justice Bello Hassan, and Justice Aliyu Gegele, following a tribunal session that lasted over four hours.
The tribunal concluded that the petitioner failed to substantiate allegations of incorrect collation of election results and the absence of elections in certain wards within the state.
Regarding claims of non-compliance by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the Electoral Act and allegations of electoral misconduct, the tribunal ruled that Matawalle was unable to provide sufficient evidence to support his claims.
