Supreme Court sets aside Zamfara Gov’s sack, affirms election

The Supreme Court has set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja which declared Governor Dauda Lawal’s election inconclusive.

A five-member panel of justices on Friday unanimously held that the appeal by Governor Lawal has merit.

The lead judgment by Justice Emmanuel Agim held the appellate court judgment was perverse and reversed the order for a rerun.

The panel found that the contention by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bello Matawalle, that the results as declared in favour of the governor in three local government areas of Birnin Magaji, Bukuyyum and Maradun was not corrected was not proved.

Justice Agim submitted that the apex court has consistently maintained that any party which disputes the result of an election must tender the correct results.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Lawal winner of the election, but Matawalle challenged his victory in court.

While the tribunal affirmed the governor’s election, the Appeal court sacked him.