JUST IN: Confusion Hits The Judiciary As Court Of Appeal Set Aside Tribunal Ruling Which Sacked Kano Governor, Kabir Yusuf, Orders APC To Pay Him N1million- See Document

BushradiogistNov 21, 2023Read original

The Court of Appeal has overturned the ruling of the Kano Governorship Election Tribunal in the petition between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Kabir Yusuf. The certified court documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that the appellate court set aside the tribunal’s decision, which initially sacked Governor Yusuf and directed the APC to pay him N1 million.

On November 17, the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the Election Petitions Tribunal’s decision to remove Governor Yusuf from office. The court agreed with the tribunal’s judgment, asserting that the candidacy of Abba Yusuf breached electoral laws, rendering him unqualified for the election.

The tribunal had earlier on September 20 nullified Yusuf’s victory, declaring APC candidate Nasiru Gawuna as the winner of the March 18 election. In the certified court documents, Yusuf Abba Kabir appealed, while APC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) were respondents.

Justice Moore Aseimo Abraham Adumen, delivering the ruling, stated, “I find no merit in this appeal, which is hereby dismissed. The judgment of the tribunal is set aside, and the sum of N1,000,000.00 is awarded as costs in favor of the appellant and against the 1st respondent.”

Yusuf, who contested on the NNPP platform, initially won the election, but the tribunal deducted 165,663 votes as invalid, citing unstamped and unsigned ballot papers. Despite the APC’s concession of defeat earlier, the party applauded the judiciary’s decision, emphasizing the judiciary’s independence and urging it to resist political pressure. The party, however, did not comment on the N1 million awarded against it.