The Supreme Court has upheld Governor Abba Yusuf’s victory in the Kano Governorship Election, dismissing the appeal filed by Nasir Gawuna.
The apex court also reinstated the 165,663 votes initially deducted from Governor Yusuf’s total, solidifying his position as the duly elected governor of Kano State.
Background
This legal saga traces back to the Court of Appeal’s ruling on November 17, 2023, which affirmed the Election Petitions Tribunal’s decision to remove Governor Abba Yusuf from office.
The tribunal’s judgment, rendered on September 20, declared Nasiru Gawuna, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, as the rightful winner, citing the invalidity of 165,663 votes due to missing stamps or signatures on the ballot papers.
The twist in the electoral tale occurred after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) initially declared Governor Yusuf, running on the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) platform, as the winner in March.
The tribunal’s decision to subtract votes and disqualify Yusuf triggered a significant upheaval in the political landscape of Kano State.
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Court’s Decision
Delivering Jusgemnt, The Apex court emphasized that the issue of nomination falls within the internal affairs of a political party.
The court noted that Abba Yusuf’s qualification to contest and his subsequent election as the governor of Kano State were deemed valid.
“The Issue Of Nomination Is Exclusively The Internal Affirms Of A Political Party, Therefore Abba Yusuf Is Qualified To Contest And Is The Duly Elected Governor Of Kano” . Supreme court rules
The apex court’s ruling not only affirms Yusuf’s victory but also underscores the autonomy of political parties in their internal processes.
The justices questioned the judgments of both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal regarding the Kano Election matter.
Justice Okoro, delivering the court’s stance, criticized the lower courts, stating, “Finally, the lower court wrongly misconstrued its evaluation of the ballot papers.This amounts to perversion. Accordingly, all the ballot papers are restored to Governor Yusuf.”
This conclusive verdict concludes a six-month legal battle that saw Nasiru Gawuna initially conceding defeat to Abba Yusuf after INEC presented the certificate of return to the NNPP candidate.
The Supreme Court’s decision now settles the controversy surrounding the Kano Governorship Election, solidifying Governor Abba Yusuf’s position as the legitimate leader of the state.