From Kano election hero to embattled governor…timeline of Abba Yusuf’s case
It could be recalled that in March 2023, Abba Kabir Yusuf clinched victory for NNPP in Kano’s governorship election with 1,019,602 votes, surpassing APC’s Nasir Gawuna.
The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) declares Yusuf the winner, prompting a post-election curfew imposed by the Kano State government to quell tensions.
And in September the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, via Zoom, ousted Abba Yusuf of the NNPP as governor. The tribunal instructed INEC to retract Yusuf’s certificate of return and affirmed Nasir Gawuna of the APC as Kano’s legitimate governor.
Yusuf, endorsed by Kwankwaso, had initially won with 1,019,602 votes against Gawuna’s 890,705.
In response, Gawuna and the APC challenged Yusuf’s victory, leading to a deduction of 165,663 votes by the tribunal due to unstamped, unsigned, and undated ballot papers. This rendered Yusuf with 853,939 votes, making Gawuna, with 890,705 votes, the new victor.
Tensions rose in the state post-verdict, notably with Adamu Aliyu threatening tribunal judges during an NNPP supporters’ prayer session. Yusuf promptly dismissed Aliyu for his “unguarded comments.” The tribunal’s decision reshaped Kano’s political landscape, favoring Gawuna and the APC.
Divergent Appeal Court judgments spark Supreme Court challenge
The appeal court rendered divergent judgments, with dissenting opinions highlighting differing interpretations of legal principles. One faction supported the lower court’s decision, emphasizing precedent and statutory interpretation, while the opposing view underscored constitutional nuances.
The conflicting rulings intensified the legal landscape, prompting the aggrieved party to strategize for a Supreme Court challenge. Their approach centers on presenting nuanced arguments, precedent analysis, and highlighting constitutional relevance.
The impending Supreme Court appeal seeks not only resolution but also clarification on the interpretation of pivotal legal doctrines, aiming to reconcile the disparate perspectives for a definitive legal outcome.
CTC: Kano election appeal sparks controversy
Amidst uncertainty, the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Appeal Court’s judgment on the Kano state governorship election has stirred confusion. A section of the report, found on page 67, affirms Abba Yusuf’s victory as the duly elected governor, overturning the Kano election petition tribunal’s judgment for lacking merit.
READ ALSO: Abba Yusuf, Abdullahi Sule; top governors sacked by court in 2023
The document, signed by Registrar Jameel Ibrahim Umar on Tuesday, November 21, upholds Yusuf’s triumph under the banner of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
