No fewer than 300 private legal practitioners have offered to render pro bono services to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Zamfara State, Bello Mattawale, at the Supreme Court.

The legal practitioners, under the ages of concerned citizens across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, stated that their decision to mobilise 300 legal professionals stemmed from the quest to protect the country’s democracy from alleged vote rigging and those attempting to intimidate the judiciary.

The group, led by its National Coordinator, Comrade Bassey Ekemini, who disclosed this in Abuja, emphasised that the Supreme Court must act independently on the day of judgement to uphold its supremacy and put an end to the arrogance of those who believe they control Zamfara State.

The group recalled that the three-member panel of the Appeal Court, led by Justice Oyebisi Folayemi and supported by Justice Cordelia Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo and Justice Sybil Nwaka Gbagi, nullified the return of Governor Dauda Lawal as the winner of the governorship poll.

Ekemini said, “We have mobilised a legion of lawyers, opinion leaders and comrades who crusade is for truth and justice. They stand as the conscience of the bar and society, showing solidarity and seeking justice for our governor-in-waiting, Mattawale.”

Ekemini urged the Apex Court to fearlessly deliver its judgement in line with established judicial doctrine, affirming the verdict of the Appellate Court that secured the mandate of the Zamfara people.

He added, “We stand by the mandate given to Bello Mattawalle in March 2023 and ask the highest court not to pervert justice. The respected justices must not succumb to perceived intimidation and media manipulation.”

He called on the people of the state to remain calm, expressing confidence that justice would prevail.

“Bello Mattawalle is the holder of the people’s mandate as affirmed by the lower courts, and this group shall stand by him from start to finish in the life of his government, as affirmed by the highest court of the land.

This development follows Governor Dauda Lawal and his Peoples Democratic Party’s vow to seek redress at the Supreme Court after a court order necessitated reruns in the three local government areas of Maradun, Birnin-Magaji and Bukkuyum of the state.