Governor Lawal’s Victory Is Pride For Zamfara – Commissioner

The Zamfara State Commissioner for information and Culture, Alhaji Mannir Haidara, has described the Supreme court judgement on Zamfara governorship election as a pride for democracy and entire people of Zamfara.

The Supreme Court, in its sitting in Abuja on Friday, upheld Governor Dauda Lawal’s election as governor of the state.

Recall that in March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC declared Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party,  PDP as the winner of the Zamfara Stete governorship election with 377,726 votes.

Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bello Matawalle who polled 311,976 votes, challenged the outcome of the poll.

Matawalle, now minister of state for defence, had accused INEC over failure to include the results of some wards in Maradun local government area.

In September, 2023 tribunal court upheld Lawal’s election as governor of Zamfara.

In November, 2023 the Appeal court declared the state governorship election inconclusive and directed INEC to conduct election in three LGAs of Birnin-Magaji, Bukkuyum and Maradun.

The supreme court’s five-member panel overturned the judgment of the court of appeal which declared the Zamfara gubernatorial election inconclusive.

The court described the judgment of the appellate court as “perverse”, and ruled in favour of the appeal filed by Lawal.

Reacting to the court judgement in Gusau on Friday, Haidara described it as a welcome development to the state.

“You know, democracy is all about interest of majority, I believe the judgement that upheld Gov Lawal’s election promoted the interest of the common man.

“I commend the supreme court for protecting the interest of the common man maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s judiciary sector.

“Governor Lawal’s election victory in the supreme court will allow him to continue with various development projects already embarked upon,” the Commissioner explained.

“The victory will allow the governor to continue with implementation of rescue mission and urban policies for the development of the state.

“I appeal to people of the state to remain calm and continue to pray for the government to succeed in the fight against security challenges,” he said.

Haidara called on the PDP supporters in the state to be law abiding and ensure peaceful celebration.

NAN