Politics
Election Petition Tribunal: governor bello matawalle seeks for Declaration As The Winner Of Zamfara 2023 Governorship Poll As He Petitions The Tribunal
Governor Bello Matawalle and All Progressives Congress (APC) had petitioned the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal over irregularities in the conduct of the 18th March 2023 governorship election.
The petition was filed at the Governorship election petition secretariat on Monday the 10th of April 2023.
Matawalle and APC through their lead counsel Usman O. Sule a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, is asking for declaration from the tribunal as the winner of the Zamfara Governorship Election conducted on the 18th of March 2023 based on the score by the APC as contained in the form EC8(A) issued to the agent of the APC for Maradun by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
In the petitioners team there are four Senior Advocates of Nigeria including Usman O. Sule SAN, M. A Ebite (SAN), L. S. Oko-Jaja (SAN), and Prof. T. B Maiyaki (SAN).
The petitioner Bello Matawalle is asking for declaration as the winner of the Zamfara 2023 Governorship poll based on the highest number of votes scored in the poll.
“The Petitioners aver that if the 3rd Respondent reckoned with the actual votes scored between the Petitioners and the 1st and 2nd Respondent as contained on the duplicate form EC8C issued to the agent of the Petitioners, the Petitioners would have been declared the winner of the election held on 18th March 2023”.
“The Petitioners avers that by the actual score of candidates at the Election as contained in the actual Form EC8A, EC8B and EC8C given to agents of the Petitioners during the conduct of Zamfara State Governorship Election, the Petitioners would have won the election even without conducting elections in the four (4) registration areas of Birnin Magaji Local Government namely; Kiyawa, Dan Fami/Sabon Birnin/Dan Ali, Nasarawa Godeal East and Gora”.
“The Petitioners state that the total number of accredited voters in Maradun Local Government as contained in the duplicate of form EC8C given to the Petitioners agent is 101, 652”.
“The Petitioners avers that the actual votes scored by the Petitioners in Maradun Local Government Area during Zamfara State Governorship Election held on the 18th March, 2023 was 98, 506 and not 24, 855 recorded in the mutilated Form EC8C by the 3rd Respondent”.
“The Petitioners state that the actual votes scored by the 1st and 2nd Respondents in Maradun Local Government Area during Zamfara State Governorship Election held on the 18th March, 2023 was 618 and not 12,261 as recorded in the mutilated Form EC 8C by the 3rd Respondent”.
“The Petitioners aver that the Petitioners won the said election and would have been declared winner, if all votes are reckoned with the actual votes of Maradun Local Government with the Petitioners scoring 385, 627 while the 1st and 2nd Respondent would have lost the election with 366,003”.
On the conduct of election in four registration areas of Birnin Magaji as well as the total number of votes cancelled in the entire state, the petitioner prayed that the Zamfara 2023 governorship election ought to have declared the election as inconclusive hence the number of registered voters in the poling units cancelled plus the poling units where election did not hold is greater than the margin of lead.
“The Petitioners aver that election did not take place in all Polling Units in Danfami Sabo Birni Registration Area with 10, 723 registered voters, Gora Registration Area with 14, 463 registered voters, Kiyawa Registration Area with 11,061 registered voters and Nasarawa G. East Registration Area with 7, 842 all of Birnin Magaji Local Government Area. The Polling Units and the number of registered voters are as follows”.
“The total number of registered voters where election did not hold and where election was cancelled outside the four (4) wards in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area is 44, 671”.
“The Petitioners state that the total number of registered voters in polling units where election did not hold and where election was cancelled in Zamfara State on the 18th March 2023 is 88, 760, a figure far above the margin of lead which is 65,750”.
“The Petitioners aver that the number of registered voters in Polling Units where election did not hold or cancelled during the Zamfara State Governorship election is more than the margin of lead between the 1st Respondent and the 1st Petitioner”.
“The Petitioners aver that where the number of registered voters in polling units where election could not hold or cancelled is more than the margin of lead between the 1st Respondent and the 1st Petitioner, the election ought to be declared inconclusive, and no winner could have been declared until election is held in polling units where election was unable to hold or cancelled”.
The petitioners had also prayed that the election be cancelled as a result of over voting in poling units in some poling units at Shinkafi, Bukkuyum, Bungudu, Anka, Kaura Namoda, Birnin Magaji, Bakura and Tsafe.
The petition which has the EPT/ZM/GOV/02/2023 is slated for mentioning at a date to be announced.
The respondents Dauda Lawal, People’s Democratic Party and Independent National Electoral Commission are to be served with the copy of the petition for them to be able to enter appearance in the case.
The majority leader of the Lagos House of Assembly, Noheem Adams, on Friday raised alarm over alleged plans by some people to manipulate the result of the primary election that produced him as a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adams reportedly won the primary election of the party to produce a candidate for the House of Assembly in Eti-Osa Constituency 1 on Wednesday after polling 7,638 against his opponent’s 1225 votes.
Speaking to thousands of APC supporters during a Victory March, Adams said accused a top monarch (name withheld) in Eti-Osa of being behind the plan to doctor the result in favour of Saheed Adesegun Bankole, who was defeated in the election.
“I want you all very much for the love and passion you have for me and APC. Today is what we call victory walk. We started from VGC with over 4000 APC members. Even inside the rain you stood your ground and you are here to protect your mandate.
“Thank you very much for voting for me. I won the election throughout our wards and the INEC officials, DSS and police personnel were there and even the agents of our opponent were there as well.
“Let me put it on record that his agents and the police signed that the election was free and fair and they took all the results to the local government collation centre.
“When they got there, they presented all the results to the DSS, INEC officials and also to the returning officer and he collected everything and announced that Adams was the winner of the election.
“We believe in this party. The only crime I have committed was during the impeachment of the Speaker; that I did not follow them and did not stand against the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly,” he alleged.
He said being a politician, he understood “loyalty and how to always be loyal. That is the only crime I committed and today, I’m calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to caution the Oba.
“The Oba is the reason why we lost the presidential election in 2023 in the constituency and he is the reason why we lost the House of Representatives seat. He lost in his own kingdom and the results are there at the INEC for all to see.
“I’m calling on the Inspector General of Police that if anything happens to me, he should hold the Oba responsible. And in 2027, if we lose the presidential election in the local government, the President should hold him responsible. We have assured the President that we are going to vote for him and he will win.”
He urged his loyalists and supporters to remain calm as he trusts the party enough to resolve the issue.
President of the Lekki Residents and Stakeholders Association, Sulyman Bello, also thanked the supporters for having faith in Adams.
“On behalf of all of all the estates from 1004 and across the entire Lekki peninsula, we thank all the APC members for standing by our friend, brother, father Hon. Noheem Adams.
“If all the estates in Eti -Osa Osa, call on him at the same time, he will respond. We also thank God that he got over 7,000 votes and his opponent a little above 1,000 votes. The winning margin is above 90%.
“We thank all those of you that voted and also thank President Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership. We extend our gratitude to the APC leaders in Lagos state. If it is not Noheem, it is not Noheem,” he said.
Politics
Governor Dauda Lawal Emerges APC Consensus Governorship Candidate for Zamfara 2027 Election
Governor Dauda Lawal Ph.d has officially emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 election in Zamfara State, following a consensus arrangement adopted by the party for its primaries.The governor secured the ticket after party members and supporters gathered across various wards to endorse him as the APC’s flagbearer for the forthcoming election. The consensus model, which allowed party stakeholders to unite behind a single candidate, was embraced as a strategy to avoid a contentious primary and strengthen internal cohesion ahead of the 2027 polls.Speaking with journalists shortly after the exercise, Governor Lawal expressed profound gratitude to party members for the confidence reposed in him. He reaffirmed his commitment to the people of Zamfara, pledging to consolidate ongoing developmental projects aimed at improving the lives of residents across the state.“I am deeply honored by the trust and support of our party faithful,” Lawal said. “We will not relent in our efforts to deliver meaningful development, enhance security, and create opportunities for all citizens of Zamfara State.”His emergence underscores the party’s push to build continuity and strong leadership in the northwest region.Political analysts note that the adoption of consensus candidate signals the APC’s preference for unity and reduced internal friction as the party prepares for the next electoral cycle.
Lagos lawmaker, Adewale Temitope Adedeji, has won the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary election for the party’s candidacy in Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency 1 ahead of the 2027 general election.Adewale, a current member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, scored 19,111 to defeat his closest rival, Obawole Quadri lawal, who polled 295 votes.Three other aspirants in the election that was monitored by the state electoral officers, the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies, Afolabi Ajiboye, Akinyemi Temitope, and Adewale Lateef, scored 165, 73 and 33 votes respectively.The primary election was conducted peacefully on Wednesday across seven political wards in the constituency.A youth leader and participant in the exercise, Demola Olajide, said the peaceful exercise was the result of the maturity of the aspirants and the members’ respect for party supremacy.In a ‘thank you’ message to his constituents on Thursday, Adewale described his victory at the primary election as democracy in action.He noted that the beauty of the exercise was that he had despite having other aspirants, the election was peaceful.”What makes this moment special wasn’t just the win. It was the voices that were heard, the choices people made freely, and the peaceful process that let a community decide its own path forward.”That’s the heart of democracy: every vote counts, every opinion matters, and power flows from the people up.”May this new chapter bring the progress and unity we have promised to fight for. The real work starts now and our leaders are watching with hope.”Let’s be further determined to increase our support for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat and other candidates of the party in the 2027 election,” he urged.
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