The Court of Appeal Sitting in Abuja has declared the March 18, 2023 Zamfara State governorship election inconclusive.

Delivering the judgment,  the appellate court held that Matawalle, who is now the Minister of State for Defence, successfully proved that Dauda was not duly elected.

The appellate court 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 could not be used for collation of results as done by the tribunal, saying IREV was only meant to view results.

Reading the lead judgment, Justice Sybil Nwaka ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election in three local government areas of the state, 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.”

The Independent Electoral Commission had declared Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party as the winner of the election, defeating the incumbent governor Bello Matawalle of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Matawalle, however, challenged the outcome of the poll at the tribunal but his petition was dismissed for lacking in merit.

Displeased with the tribunal’s judgment, he approached the Court of Appeal.