In a bid to challenge the tribunal judgement that nullified his victory, Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has expressed his intention to appeal the decision.
According to a report by DAILY NIGERIAN, the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Kano declared Nasiru Gawuna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Kano governorship election.
The tribunal ruled against Mr Yusuf, stating that he did not secure the majority of lawful votes.
The court declared Mr Gawuna as the validly elected governor based on the grounds that both the first and third respondents admitted to over-voting. The tribunal concluded that the petitioner’s claim of 200,000 votes being affected by overvoting was indeed true.
In response to the judgement, Governor Yusuf addressed the press at the government house in Kano, highlighting the errors and misapplication of the law in the ruling. He expressed optimism that these discrepancies would be corrected at the Court of Appeal.
He announced that the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) had already instructed its legal teams to initiate the appeal process promptly.
“My lawyers have identified numerous errors and loopholes in the judgement. There is room for appeal. I have already instructed our legal team to begin the appeal process as soon as possible,” he said.
Despite the setback, Mr Yusuf assured the people of Kano that he remained committed to fulfilling his campaign promises. He urged them to remain calm and law-abiding, emphasizing that security agents were present to maintain law and order.
“This verdict will not deter us from fulfilling our obligations to the people of Kano. It is a temporary setback that will soon be rectified,” he asserted.
“I call on my supporters to remain calm and continue their legal businesses, as we are hopeful of reclaiming our mandate in the appeal court,” the governor concluded.
