The Zamfara Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Monday, dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Bello Muhammad, against state governor, Dauda Lawal.
The chairperson of the three-member panel, Justice Cordelia Ogadi, said while the petition lacked merit, the petitioners were unable to prove their case as required by law.
According to the tribunal, the petitioners were also unable to prove allegations of over-voting, and substantial non-compliance of the poll to the provisions of the electoral act, which in there view, would have affected the overall outcome of its result.
Justice Ogadi further held that all the arguments were considered and the case decided based on the constitutional requirements as well as the provisions of the electoral laws.
It also ordered the petitioners to pay N500,000 to each of the three respondents, Dauda Lawal, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
ASHENEWS recalls that Muhammad, and the APC had filed the petition against the election victory of Lawal.
They had alleged that the March 18 governorship election was flawed with irregularities and sought the tribunal’s order nullifying the return of Lawal as winner of the poll by INEC.
They also sought the order of the court declaring Matawalle winner of the said election on the ground that he scored the majority of the lawful votes.
The petitioners prayed the Tribunal to mandate INEC to issue Muhammad with a Certificate of Return and further orders necessary.
