The Supreme Court is poised to deliver a momentous judgment today in the Kano Gubernatorial dispute between incumbent Governor Abba Yussuf and Nasir Gawuna of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
The legal battle, initiated at the Kano Guber appeal hearing on December 21, 2023, has garnered widespread attention, fueled by revelations surrounding a mistaken first copy of the Court of Appeal’s judgment.
Acknowledging the error, the Supreme Court displayed a commitment to accuracy and fairness by accepting the corrected second copy identified and rectified by the appeal court.
Amidst the complexity of the case, the highest court declared, “We don’t have time to waste on 9 appeals,” underscoring the urgency of the matter.
Governor Abba Yusuf’s legal team passionately pleaded with the Apex court to uphold the results of the Kano Governorship election, seeking affirmation of Yusuf’s victory.
On the opposing side, Nasir Gawuna, the APC Governorship candidate, presented a comprehensive case against Yusuf, alleging falsified documents, failure to secure a majority of valid votes, and significant noncompliance with the Electoral Act of 2022.
Gawuna further implored the Apex court to uphold the judgment of the Appeal Court that declared him the winner, intensifying the stakes in this high-stakes legal showdown.
Background
Recalling the election aftermath, INEC initially declared NNPP’s victory, but the tribunal invalidated over 165,663 votes, citing noncompliance with the Electoral Act.
Dissatisfied with the tribunal’s ruling, Governor Yusuf appealed approached the Appellate court seeking to overturn the decision of the tribunal.
On November 17th, the Court of Appeal ousted Governor Abba Yusuf and declared Nasiru Gawuna the winner.
The rejection of Governor Yusuf’s appeal, based on concerns related to party membership, added further twists to the narrative.
However, confusion ensued on November 21, as the Certified True Copy of the court judgment revealed inconsistencies, injecting a dose of uncertainty into the legal proceedings.
Today’s Supreme Court verdict is anticipated to be a landmark moment in Kano’s political history, determining the rightful holder of the gubernatorial seat.
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