THESHIELD Garkuwa
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By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
The Appeal Court sitting in Sokoto on Friday affirmed Dauda Lawal as candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Zamfara state.
The Court set aside a judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Gusau the Zamafara state capital presided over by Justice Aminu Bappa Aliyu which earlier nullified the process of the primaries that gave Lawal the party’s ticket as its guber candidate hence rules that PDP had no candidate in the state.
In it’s ruling the appellate Court comprising a three-man panel of judges concurred with the lead judgment of Justice Muhammad Shu’aibu, who ordered the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) to accept Lawal as the elected governorship candidate of the PDP in Zamfara State for the 2023 general election.
The panel said it was inconceivable for the Federal High Court Judge’s refusal to accept the INEC report of the primaries claiming that it was not certified despite being a public document and published on the INEC website.
The panel added that the appellant was not properly joined by the plaintiffs. Also, a court cannot grant a relief not sought by the plaintiff. “The court is not Father Christmas,” said the panel.
Reacting to the judgment, Dauda Lawal described the Appeal Court’s ruling in Sokoto as a victory for democracy, and the good people of Zamfara State.
The PDP governorship candidate, who spoke through Dauda Lawal Media Office, said the Appeal Court judgment was a victory not only for the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) but for the entire people of Zamfara yearning for good governance.
The people are celebrating my appeal court judgment because of their conviction that Under my leadership, Zamfara State will be a reference point for new ideas, determination, dynamism, and endless possibilities.
