Nigeria, March 21 -- The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor-elect of Zamfara State.

The result was announced by the state collation officer, Kashim Shehu of the Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Tuesday morning, in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital.

Mr Lawal polled 377,726 votes to defeat the incumbent governor, Bello Matawalle who got 311,976 votes.

National Rescue Movement (NRM) candidate Aliyu Dansadau came a distant third with 2,416 while Ahmed Yahuza of the Labour Party got 573. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) withdrew from the race earlier.

"I, Kashim Shehu hereby certified that I'm the Returning Officer for the 2023 general elections...