Breaking: Appellate court sacks gov Dauda Lawal, declares Zamfara guber poll inconclusive

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday, November 16, announced the Zamfara State Governorship Election as inconclusive.

In its verdict, the court mandated a re-run in three specific Local Government Areas: Maradun, Birnin-Magaji, and Bukyun.

As reported by Channels TV, the court asserted that the Zamfara State Election Petitions Tribunal failed to assess the evidence presented by the appellants thoroughly.

Additionally, the court rejected the results submitted by the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for Maradun Local Government.

Recall that Lawal emerged victorious in the March 18 governorship election, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, Bello Matawalle from the All Progressives Congress (APC) contested Lawal's win, as he ran on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform.

Despite the tribunal affirming Lawal's election, Matawalle, currently serving as the Minister of State for Defence, has taken the case to the Appeal Court.

In another report, the minister of state for defence, Bello Matawalle, has responded to the allegations of embezzlement against him.

The former Zamfara state governor said the allegations were schemes used by Governor Dauda Lawal to tarnish his legacy.

He said the incumbent governor was not pleased that he was appointed minister in President Bola Tinubu's cabinet.

Zamfara govt accuses Tinubu’s minister Matawalle of squandering over N1bn

Meanwhile, Matawalle has been caught in the web of fresh allegations. The Zamfara state government accused the ex-governor of squandering over N1 billion on an abandoned project.

The state government claimed the contract for the abandoned project was awarded during Matawalle's administration in 2020.