The Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto has dismissed an appeal filed by governorship candidate of the opposition People Democratic Party Zamfara, Dauda Lawal, nullifying his candidature.
Delivering its judgement in a unanimous decision by the three panel of judges, Justice Muhammad Shuaibu held that the appeal was an abuse of judicial process and lacked merit.
Shuaibu further explained that Lawal had no right to appeal the judgement he already complied with.
The PDP governorship aspirant in the state, Ibrahim Shehu, had challenged Lawal’s emergence as the PDP candidate.
Shehu argued that the election that returned Lawal was marred with irregularities and non-compliance with the Electoral Act and PDP guidelines.
Having dissatisfied, he approached the Federal High Court in Gusau, Zamfara State capital which nullified the primary and ordered PDP to conduct a rerun within 14 days.
PDP complied with the judgement, conducted the rerun, and Lawal reemerged.
Shehu again approached the same high court, stressing that there was no election ruled in his favour and that the PDP had no governorship candidate for the 2023 election.
Responding, the lawyer to the appellants, Aminu Aliyu, said his client has the opportunity of appealing the judgement in Supreme Court.
Also speaking, lawyer to the respondent, Ndiana Anaka, said the judgement was a victory for democracy and rule of law.
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