In a significant ruling, the Federal High Court in Abuja has restored Mahdi Ali Gusau as the deputy governor of Zamfara. The court order comes after Gusau’s impeachment by the state’s House of Assembly on February 23, 2022, despite an existing court order that was overlooked. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his judgment, nullified all actions taken by the House of Assembly, former Governor Bello Matawalle, and the state’s chief judge during the impeachment process. The judge emphasized that such actions were unacceptable and devoid of any legal effect. Justice Ekwo further asserted that litigants must not take extrajudicial actions while a case is pending before the court. The court’s decision effectively restores Gusau to his position as the deputy governor of Zamfara.
The impeachment of Gusau took place after Governor Matawalle and several lawmakers defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on June 29, 2021. In response, Gusau, who did not join the defection, filed a lawsuit, seeking to have the defectors’ seats declared vacant on the grounds of party abandonment. The lawsuit named various defendants, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC, and key political figures. The plaintiffs requested an injunction obliging INEC to acknowledge the PDP candidates and issue certificates of return to them. They also sought Gusau’s appointment as governor on the PDP’s platform to complete the remaining term.
Earlier, on July 19, 2021, the Federal High Court had issued an interim order restraining the House of Assembly from proceeding with Gusau’s impeachment. However, despite the court order, Gusau was impeached following the submission of a report by an investigative panel appointed by the chief judge.
The plaintiffs subsequently filed a motion seeking to reinstate Gusau to his previous position and set aside all actions related to the impeachment proceedings. The lawsuit was originally filed on July 8, 2021, but later amended.
This ruling marks a significant development in the political landscape of Zamfara, with Mahdi Ali Gusau regaining his position as the deputy governor.