Abuja, Nigeria – The Court of Appeal in Abuja is poised to deliver its judgment today (Friday) on the contentious Kano State governorship election, which has pitted the incumbent governor, Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), against Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) previously declared Abba Yusuf as the victor of the 18 March election with 1,019,602 votes, surpassing Nasiru Gawuna’s 890,705 votes. Yusuf’s success was attributed to the support of the former governor of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and his political machinery, the Kwankwasiya Movement.
However, Gawuna contested the election results at the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which, in a unanimous decision on 20 September, nullified 165,663 of Yusuf’s votes, consequently declaring Gawuna as the rightfully elected candidate.
Undeterred by the tribunal’s ruling, Governor Abba Yusuf appealed the decision at the Court of Appeal, which is now set to announce its judgment.
It is important to note that the Court of Appeal’s decision is not final, and any party dissatisfied with the outcome retains the option to appeal to the Supreme Court.
Due to the heightened tension surrounding the case in Kano, the appellate court authorities relocated its panel to Abuja for the hearing.
As the judgment day arrives, anticipatory tension is palpable around the headquarters of the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
NAIJA UPDATE is on-site to closely monitor the proceedings from the courtroom and will provide live updates below as the judgment unfolds.
