Zamfara chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday reacted to the Election Petition Appeal Court judgment on the March 18 governorship election in the state and expressed optimism of victory in the rerun.

The court declared on Thursday that the election was inconclusive and ordered a rerun in three local government areas of Birnin-Magaji, Bukkuyum and Maradun.

PDP’s spokesman in Zamfara, Alhaji Buhari Maijega, however, told newsmen in Gusau on Friday that his party would win the rerun election in the three local government areas.

“I assure the general public that the PDP will secure landslide victory in any rerun election in Zamfara.

“We are confident that Gov. Dauda Lawal will emerge victorious in the rerun election.

“Gov. Lawal led his opponent, the former governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with more than 65,000 votes in the March 18 exercise.

“The total votes to be contested in the three affected local government areas where the rerun election will hold is not up to 100,000 votes,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has welcomed the judgments on the Zamfara and Kano governorship elections, saying they showed that the judiciary is vibrant and independent.

The Court of Appeal had on Thursday declared the Zamfara governorship election, held six months ago, inconclusive and ordered a rerun in three council areas. A day later, it also upheld the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions ruling that sacked Abba Yusuf as the state’s governor.

Following the development, APC spokesman Felix Morka said: “Both judgments underscore the vibrancy and independence of the judiciary and rekindle confidence that the courts are, and remain, the bastion of hope for justice in any democracy”.

“As we applaud the judiciary for its courage and professionalism in discharging its important constitutional duties, we urge it to continue to rise above blackmail and intimidation by some self-serving political interests, and continue to give full expression to the tenets of the law, irrespective of the identity or status of the parties involved,” Morka said.