The Zamfara State All Progressives Congress has received with utmost pleasure, the dismissal, Wednesday, 13th July, of the Appeal and Cross Appeal filed by Mahadi Aliyu Gusau demanding the removal of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle as the governor of Zamfara by the Appeal Court, Sokoto Division.
The development followed a judgment delivered by the Appeal Court, Sokoto presided by Justice A A Gumel, which affirmed the earlier judgment of the Federal High Court, Gusau which held that Governor Matawalle can not be removed from office simply because he defected from PDP to the APC.
The Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgment, held that Governor Matawalle has the right to defect to any political party of his choice.
The Court held that the provision of the Constitution is very clear to the effect that no punishment was provided against a governor who defects to another party.
The Court indicated that Governor Matawalle can’t vacate his seat and no Court of law can remove him just because of his decision to defect to another political party of his choice.
Similarly, the Court while dismissing the Cross Appeal filed by Barr Mahadi Aliyu Gusau, the impeached deputy governor of the state, held that Mahadi Aliyu Gusau can not succeed Matawalle merely because the governor defected from PDP to APC.
The Court added that once a governor is sworn in, he ceases to be under the control of the political party which sponsored him.
The Court of Appeal awarded N1 million cost in favour of the 1st and 2nd Respondents in the main appeal.
The APC expressed elation with the judgment which proved that the judiciary is working towards protecting every citizen’s right according to the law of land.
