Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has announced his decision to appeal the dismissal of his election by the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court, following Friday’s ruling. In a statement issued by his media aide, Bature Dawakin-Tofa, Governor Yusuf conveyed his determination to challenge the decision, expressing optimism in the Supreme Court’s potential to overturn the previous rulings which he described as miscarriages of justice.
Emphasizing the confidence in reclaiming his mandate, Governor Yusuf called on the people of Kano State to remain calm and assured them of the government’s commitment to ensuring their safety and security. Despite the setback, he pledged to forge ahead with the implementation of developmental projects and programs aimed at restoring the state’s former glory. He also vowed to introduce new initiatives to foster the delivery of democratic dividends to the citizens and residents of Kano State.
Furthermore, Governor Yusuf urged the people of Kano State and other concerned Nigerians to continue offering prayers for the state, seeking divine intervention to safeguard it from injustices and undue interference.
The Court of Appeal’s unanimous ruling nullified Yusuf’s election, citing his invalid candidacy in the March 18 gubernatorial election due to not being a valid member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) at the time. The court held that this rendered Yusuf ineligible to contest the governorship election as he was not properly sponsored by the NNPP, as required by the Constitution.
Addressing the issue, the panel chairman, Justice M.U. Adumeh, emphasized the importance of party membership for election sponsorship, stating, “Sponsorship without membership is like putting something on nothing.”
Subsequently, the Court of Appeal upheld the earlier judgment of the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which had also nullified Yusuf’s win. In its ruling, the Election Petition Tribunal declared Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the new winner, following the disqualification of a significant number of votes cast for the NNPP candidate due to inadequate INEC signatures and stamps. As a result, the invalidated votes led to a reduction in Yusuf’s initial tally, ultimately resulting in APC’s Gawuna emerging as the new victor.
As Governor Yusuf seeks recourse at the Supreme Court, the future of Kano State’s leadership hangs in the balance, intensifying the anticipation and anxiety among the state’s populace.
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