The Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has declared that Nasiru Gawuna is the winner of the March 18 governorship election in Kano state.
The three-man panel led Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay gave the verdict on Wednesday.
Today, all eyes have been on the political scene in Kano for the as the much-anticipated judgment in the govership election dispute.
Background
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Abbah Yusuf the winner after polling1,019,602 votes, surpassing Gawuna, secured 890,705 votes.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, the APC approached the tribunal through a petition.
This move heightened political tension in the state.
The core of the APC’s case focused on claims of violations of the Electoral Act 2022 and other irregularities during the election.
They directed their legal efforts at INEC, the NNPP, and Governor Yusuf.
At the tribunal hearings, the APC, represented by Abdul Fagge presented evidence, including testimonies from 32 witnesses and various documents.
This evidence included a crucial report from the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines used at polling units.
Additionally, the petitioner submitted result sheets (Forms EC8A), the final tally sheet (Form EC40G), and other electoral documents from INEC.
The APC also questioned Governor Abba’s eligibility, claiming he wasn’t a registered NNPP member when he ran and won.
They provided an INEC-certified NNPP membership register as evidence.
The dispute over the membership register deepened when Mr. Fagge, the APC’s lawyer, discredited an alternate NNPP membership register, stating it didn’t meet legal requirements.
Another twist emerged when the APC’s legal team submitted over 270,000 ballot papers allegedly marked in favor of the NNPP.
They argued that despite INEC certification, these ballots lacked the required signatures, stamps, and dates.
A significant moment during the hearings came when Flora Azinge, chairperson of the tribunal, raised concerns about potential bribery attempts involving panel members.
This led to counter-accusations between APC and NNPP members, increasing the uncertainty surrounding the case’s verdict.In response to these legal challenges, both parties turned to spiritual practices.
NNPP members held mass prayer sessions, while APC members observed fasting and recited Qur’anic verses, all in the hope of swaying the outcome.
Court’s decision
Delivering judgement, the tribunal overturned the pronouncement of INEC.
The three-member panel held that Gawuna is the rightful winner of the governorship election held in Kano state.