The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has declared the Zamfara State governorship election inconclusive.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the election.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, who was seeking a second term in office, had challenged the outcome of the 18th March governorship election at the tribunal but his petition was dismissed for lacking in merit.
Delivering the judgement on Thursday, the Court of Appeal declared the election as inconclusive and ordered INEC to hold a fresh election in two local governments.
The appeal court further held that the tribunal failed to properly evaluate the evidence brought before it and that the appellants placed credible evidence before the tribunal.
The court also held that the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) cannot be used for collation of results as done by the Tribunal, adding that IREV is meant to view results.
Reading the lead judgement Justice Sybil Nwaka Gbagiz ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election in three Local Government Areas (LGAs), where elections had not been held previously or where results from various polling units were not counted.
She said: “This appeal is hereby allowed. The March 2023 Governorship election held in Zamfara state is inconclusive. INEC is hereby directed to hold fresh elections in Birnin Magaji, Bukun Yum LGA, and Maradun Local Government Areas”.
