The Supreme Court complex was abuzz with anticipation as governors from Kano, Bauchi, Plateau, Zamfara, and Ebonyi arrived for a judgement that will determine the future of their respective gubernatorial mandates. Among them are Abba Kabir Yusuf, Bala Mohammed, Caleb Mutfaang, Dauda Lawal, and Francis Nwifuru, who are all awaiting a pivotal legal decision.
Accompanied by a retinue of followers, the governors made their way into the court room, only to be promptly escorted out, leaving the space to be filled by lawyers, journalists, and accredited political party leaders. The atmosphere was charged with tension as the justices were awaited for the critical judgement delivery.
One of the cases involves Abba Kabir Yusuf, who, alongside his party NNPP, lodged an appeal against the Court of Appeal’s decision upholding his removal as declared by the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal. The tribunal had nullified Yusuf’s victory, ordering the withdrawal of his certificate of return and its issuance to Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Unsatisfied, Yusuf had taken the case to the Appeal Court, which affirmed his ousting, citing his non-membership in the party at the time of the election.
In Plateau State, Governor Caleb Mutfwang faced a similar situation, where the election tribunal upheld his victory, only for the appeal court to overturn the decision, declaring Nentawe Goshwe of the APC as the rightful winner. The court emphasized that the failure of the PDP to comply with the order of the Plateau State High Court regarding valid congresses for candidate nominations constituted a breach of the law.
Amidst these high-stakes legal battles, the governors and their supporters await the Supreme Court’s decision, acutely aware of the implications it holds for the political landscape of their respective states and the broader implications for Nigeria as a whole.
