A palpable sense of tension has descended on the premises of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, as the Court prepares to give a make or break decision in the legal struggle over the Zamfara State Governorship election.
According to Platinum Times, the battle is between the state’s immediate former governor, Bello Matawale of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and his successor, Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Matawale, who was soundly beaten in the March 18 gubernatorial election, is now the Minister of State for Defense.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported that Lawal of the PDP received 377,726 votes, while Matawalle of the APC received 311,976 votes.
The ruling is scheduled to be delivered by a three-judge panel led by Oyebisi Folayemi and supported by Cordelia Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo and Sybil Nwaka Gbagi.
On September 18, the Zamfara State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal confirmed Lawal’s election.
As of the time of writing, considerable security had been erected around the court to prevent a breakdown in law and order following the ruling.
A number of sympathizers who stormed the court as early as 8 a.m. are being kept at a safe distance by heavily armed mobile police officers.
Friends, admirers, and political allies of the two parties have already crowded the courtroom.
Meanwhile, the Justices are waiting for the verdict to be delivered.