In a landmark ruling, the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has ordered the removal of Abba Yusuf, the incumbent Governor of Kano State, from office.
The tribunal declared that the certificate of return previously awarded to Governor Kabir Yusuf, a member of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), be withdrawn immediately.
In a surprising twist, the tribunal has directed the issuance of a certificate of return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Nasiru Gawuna.
The tribunal’s decision came as a result of a substantial deduction of votes from the total votes Governor Abba Yusuf received during the highly contentious 2023 Kano Gubernatorial elections.
A staggering 165,663 votes were invalidated by the tribunal due to the absence of proper stamping and signing on the ballot papers by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). These votes were subsequently deemed invalid, leading to a significant reduction in Governor Yusuf’s final tally.
Abba Yusuf, who initially claimed victory with 1,019,602 votes, saw his electoral victory crumble in the wake of the tribunal’s judgment. On the other side, Nasiru Gawuna, the APC candidate, secured a total of 890,705 votes in the election. With the nullification of a substantial number of votes, the tribunal’s decision swung the pendulum in favor of Gawuna.
The tribunal’s verdict was delivered through a virtual platform, following threats of violence against members of the Tribunal ahead of their judgement.
The repercussions of this ruling are expected to be significant, as the political landscape of Kano State undergoes a seismic shift. As Nasiru Gawuna assumes the role of Governor, the state braces for a new era of governance under the APC. Meanwhile, the NNPP and Abba Yusuf’s camp are likely to explore legal avenues to challenge the tribunal’s decision.