Matawalle vs Lawal: Appeal Court Set To give Judgment In Zamfara Guber Election

The Court of Appeal in Abuja is surrounded by heavy security operatives ahead of the judgment in the legal battle on the Zamfara State governorship election.

The former governor of the State, Bello Matawalle, is challenging the ruling of the State Election Petition Tribunal, which affirmed the election of Governor Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Matawalle, the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 311,976 votes, while Lawal polled 377,726 votes to win in the March 18 gubernatorial poll.

A three-man panel of Justices of the Court led by Oyebisi Folayemi and supported by Cordelia Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo and Sybil Nwaka Gbagi is expected to deliver the verdict.

As of the time of this report, heavy security has been woven around the court to ward off possible breakdown of law and order after the judgment.

A group of sympathizers who had stormed the court as early as 8 am is being restricted to far distance by heavily armed mobile policemen.

Already, the courtroom has been jam-packed by friends, sympathizers and political associates of the Zamfara governor and the Minister of State for Defence.

Meanwhile, the Justices are being awaited for the delivery of the judgment.