The appellate court has scheduled today for delivering judgments on appeals arising from the election petitions tribunal of Kano state.
The court will rule on appeals filed by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and INEC challenging the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal’s decision that removed the governor.
A three-man panel of judges, led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, had on September 20, declared 165,663 of Yusuf’s votes invalid, reducing his total to 853,939. Nasir Gawuna, his APC rival, maintained 890,705 votes.
Yusuf rejected the tribunal verdict, describing it as “unfair” and “a miscarriage of justice,” leading him to appeal.
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At the court, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), counsel for Yusuf, prayed for dismissal of tribunal’s judgment, stating that it as the first time a tribunal annulled an election over non-signing of the back of ballot papers.
Akin Olujimi (SAN), counsel for APC, countered, stating that the Appeal Court emphasized that the non-signing of ballots constituted electoral malpractice.
GOOD EVENING NIGERIA reports that the announcement of the judgment day caused tension in Kano, with fears of potential violence if the appellate court upholds the tribunal’s decision.
Panic buying ensued in various markets as residents prepared for potential disruptions.
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A student of Bayero University, Kano, Nasir Yusuf, told GOOD EVENING NIGERIA that he had to shelve plan to go outside for an appointment because of fear of violence that may ensued after Judgment is delivered.
Aisha Abdullah, a businesswoman at Yan kura market, “I hope things to go smoothly without any issues, but for me, I will not even come to the market because you can never tell what will happen. Today (Thursday), I got food items that will last three days”