Kano State, one of the most populous states in Nigeria, has been plunged into a state of emergency after a tribunal overturned the election of its governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The tribunal, which delivered its judgement via Zoom on Wednesday, declared Nasiru Gawuna, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the rightful winner of the March 18 governorship poll.
The tribunal said it deducted 165,663 votes from Yusuf’s total because they were not stamped or signed by electoral officials, making them invalid. This gave Gawuna a lead of 12,766 votes over Yusuf, who had initially won by 128,897 votes.
The tribunal also dismissed Yusuf’s claims of irregularities and violence during the election, saying he failed to prove them with credible evidence.
The verdict sparked outrage among Yusuf’s supporters, who accused the tribunal of bias and injustice. They vowed to appeal the ruling at the Supreme Court, saying they have confidence in the judiciary.
To prevent any potential violence or breakdown of law and order, the Kano State government imposed a 24-hour curfew, effective from 6 p.m. on Wednesday to 6 p.m. on Thursday.
The state police commissioner, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, said in a statement that security forces have been deployed to all parts of the state to enforce the curfew and ensure peace and order.
He warned residents to abide by the curfew order or face legal consequences, adding that violators will be arrested and prosecuted.
The governorship election in Kano State was one of the most keenly contested and controversial in Nigeria’s history. It was marred by allegations of fraud, intimidation, and violence, which led to the cancellation of some results and a rerun in some areas.
The election also reflected the deep political divisions and rivalries in the state, especially between the former governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who backed Yusuf, and the incumbent governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, who supported Gawuna.
The tribunal’s ruling is a major blow to the opposition NNPP, which had hoped to retain its stronghold in the north-western region. It is also a boost for the APC, which controls the federal government and most of the states in the country.
However, the legal battle is not over yet, as Yusuf and his party have the right to challenge the tribunal’s decision at the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.
The people of Kano State are hopeful that the final outcome of the election will reflect their true will and that peace and stability will prevail in their state.
Source: Business Day
