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2019 Elections: Supreme Court sacks APC in Zamfara State, PDP takes over

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Malami’s office scuttle arraignment of ex-bank Chairman, MD over N15.7bn fraud

…Awards N10 million damages against APC

It was double jeopardy for the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, north west Nigeria this morning, when the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision ruled that the party did not have any valid candidate in the just-concluded general election.

A five-man panel of Justices led by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Tanko Muhammad, held that the ruling party did not conduct valid primary elections to nominate candidates for any elective position in the state.

The apex court maintained that the Sokoto Division of the Court of Appeal was right when it held that the APC did not file any eligible candidate in the 2019 general election in Zamfara State.

Consequently, the apex court, in its lead verdict that was prepared and delivered by Justice Paul Galinje, dismissed an appeal the APC lodged to challenge the appellate court’s judgement.

Besides, Justice Galinje, awarded a cost of N10million against the APC.

“I find that the lower court was right in holding that there were no primary elections in Zamfara State. The appeal had no merit and it should be dismissed. It is accordingly dismissed.

“The party that has no candidate cannot be declared a winner of the election. Therefore, all votes that are credited to such party is deemed as wasted voted.

“Candidates of parties with the highest number of valid votes cast with the required spread stands elected in Zamfara”, the Supreme Court held.

By this unanimous judgement, all candidates of the APC that won elections in Zamfara State, including its governor-elect, Alhaji Mukhtar Idris, have been sacked.

Following from the judgment of the Supreme Court, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) becomes the biggest beneficiary of APC’s loss. PDP’s gubernatorial candidate in the election Dr. Bello Muhammad Mutawalle automatically becomes governor-elect of Zamfara State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu, winner of the 2019 governorship election in Zamfara.

The State Collation officer, Prof Kabiru Bala of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said the APC candidate polled 534,541 to defeat Dr. Bello Muhammad Mutawalle of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who got 189,452. (RS/VANGUARD)

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