The Zamfara Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has postponed its proceedings until July 19 following the presentation of 19 witnesses by former governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle in support of his petition against Governor Dauda Lawal-Dare.
Matawalle, who ran as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, approached the tribunal to challenge the election victory of Dare from the Peoples Democratic Party.
The petitioner argued that the election held on March 18, 2023, was marred by irregularities and sought the tribunal’s declaration of his victory, as he claimed to have secured the majority of lawful votes. He also requested that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issue him a new certificate of return.
During the recent hearing, led by the petitioner’s principal counsel, Mr Usman Sule SAN, the 19th witness, Dr Ahmad Kainuwa, who served as the Returning Officer for Maradun Local Government Area during the governorship election, testified.
Kainuwa identified the result sheet he compiled from the ward collation officers under his supervision, which was presented as evidence.
He informed the tribunal that INEC instructed him not to present that result sheet, but instead announce the results obtained from the INEC server.
The witness stated that the result sheet he submitted to INEC differed from the one on the server. However, he mentioned that INEC officials instructed him to present the version from the INEC server, claiming it to be authentic.
Kainuwa noted that there was tension during the collation process in Maradun, adding that the Divisional Police Officer urged him to expedite the process due to the presence of bandits in the area.
Under cross-examination by the respondent’s counsel, Chief Solomon Akuma SAN, Mr M. Atoyemi SAN, and MrMrilson Tinger, the witness affirmed the existence of different figures and identified the ones he had produced.
The Tribunal Chairperson, Justice Cordelia Ogadi, adjourned the session to July 19, allowing Lawal and the PDP an opportunity to present their defence.
