By Nurat Uthman
The Zamfara State Governorship Election Tribunal, which is currently sitting in Sokoto, has decided to defer its judgement on the petition submitted by the former Governor of the state, Alhaji Bello Mohammed Matawalle Maradun.
The petition challenges the validity of the Governorship election result that led to Dauda Lawal becoming the Governor of the state.
The panel of judges, consisting of three members and led by Justice Cordelia Ogadi, has chosen to postpone the judgement to a later date, which will be communicated to all parties involved. This decision was made after the respondents and the council for the petitioner, Bello Matawallen Maradun, presented their written arguments to conclude the case.
Dauda Lawal, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have all provided their testimonies before the Tribunal.
Lawal requested that the Tribunal dismiss the petition filed by the former Governor, Bello Matawalle, on the grounds that it lacks merit.
All respondents referred to the case of Oyetola versus Ademola, stating that the petitioner failed to substantiate his claims, and urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition immediately.
The lead counsel for the petitioner, Barrister Usman Sule, argued in his submission that the INEC had omitted the result sheet of 98,564 votes in the Maradun Local Government Area, and that the elections were not concluded in certain council areas of the state. However, despite this, a winner was still declared.
