…State govt. imposes 24-hr curfew amid tensions
The Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, yesterday, sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP), and declared the candidate of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), Nasiru Gawuna, winner of the March 18 governorship poll.
The Tribunal said based on the evidence presented by both parties, it found merit in the petition of the APC that there are irregularities and substantial non-compliance with electoral laws during the initial election.
The tribunal therefore, ordered a rerun election between the two parties at a date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the three-man panel ordered the withdrawal of the INEC Certificate of Return issued to Governor Yusuf.
The tribunal deducted 165,663 votes from Yusuf as invalid, stating that the ballot papers (165,663) were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid. Reading of the judgment was transmitted virtually via Zoom, a tele-conference service as the panel members were not physically in court.
The ruling came weeks after lawyers of both parties made their closing arguments on behalf of their clients on 21 August.
Recall the INEC had declared that the NNPP polled 1,019,602 votes to defeat the APC with its candidate, Nasir Gawuna, who scored 890,705 votes. Yusuf, the NNPP candidate, thus won with a margin of 128,897 votes. However, the APC filed a petition at the tribunal to challenge the results declared by the electoral body. After the declaration by INEC, Gawuna congratulated Yusuf; but the APC headed to court to challenge the victory.
In reaction to yesterday’s tribunal ruling, the NNPP said it will appeal the judgement.
Meanwhile, the State government announced the enforcement of a 24-hour curfew order, which took effect from 6pm. of yesterday, ostensibly to douse the likelihood of any violence from members of the public, which may occur as a result of the tension generated.
In a press statement issued yesterday by the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, said the Police Command have mapped-out strategies on that direction, and warned residents that violators will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.
