The Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has assured that the party would still secure a landslide victory in the event of a rerun election in the state, as directed by the Court of Appeal.
Buhari Maijega, the State’s PDP spokesman, expressed this optimism during a telephone interview with newsmen in Gusau, the state capital. He confidently stated that Governor Dauda Lawal would emerge victorious in the rerun election.
Maijega highlighted that Lawal was leading by over 65,000 votes against his opponent from the APC, former Governor Bello Mattawalle, in the previous governorship election. He emphasized that the total votes to be contested in the three affected local government areas, where the rerun election would be conducted, were not even up to 100,000.
“It would be very impossible for the APC to secure all the votes in the forthcoming rerun election,” he asserted. He cited security challenges that might discourage many voters from turning out massively, especially in rural areas where polling units had been affected by banditry.
Maijega said, “Governor Lawal has a good chance of winning the election over former Governor Bello Mattawalle for many reasons. He had already scored 65,000 votes ahead of the immediate past Governor Mattawalle.” He also hinted that, depending on the decision, Lawal might challenge the judgment of the Appeal Court at the Supreme Court, suggesting that Mattawalle might be facing a difficult battle.
He appealed to APC members and supporters to come out in large numbers to secure the position of Governor Dauda Lawal, as the rerun election would be conducted in a few polling units in Maradun, Bukkuyum, and Birnin Magaji local government areas.
Maijega added, “Even if the PDP did not actively campaign, I am very optimistic that Dr. Dauda Lawal will still garner additional votes in those three local governments and retain his governorship position. I am appealing to our supporters to remain calm. We will, by the grace of God, sail through.”