The Supreme Court has conclusively affirmed Governor Dauda Lawal-Dare of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly elected and returned Governor of Zamfara State, following the gubernatorial poll on March 18th.
In response to a petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC)'s Bello Matawalle, the tribunal had earlier upheld the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) declaration of Lawal-Dare as the rightful winner.
However, in a unanimous decision, Justice Sybil Nwaka-Gbagi of the Appeal Court ordered a re-run election in several wards across three local government areas.
Unsatisfied with the ruling, Governor Lawal-Dare took the matter to the Apex Court, seeking a reversal of the Appeal Court's judgment.
In delivering the lead judgment, Justice Agim of the Supreme Court remarked, "The decision of the Court of Appeal has no evidential foundation. The judgment delivered in November is set aside. The order setting aside the appellant’s election is set aside. And the election of the appellant is upheld." The Supreme Court's ruling solidifies Governor Lawal-Dare's position, bringing a resolution to the legal contestation surrounding the Zamfara State gubernatorial election.
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