The Court of Appeal in Abuja Friday nullified the election of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party ,NNPP, in Kano State.
The three-member panel of justices, led by Justice M. U. Adumeh, delivered a unanimous judgment, shaking the political landscape with its far-reaching implications.
The heart of the matter lay in the court’s determination that Governor Yusuf was not a valid candidate during the March 18 gubernatorial election in the state. Justice Adumeh, in delivering the judgment, underscored that the evidence presented convincingly established that Yusuf was not a member of NNPP at the time of the election .
This crucial finding led the court to assert that, under section 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Yusuf lacked the qualifications to contest the governorship election since he was not validly sponsored by NNPP.
In a poignant analogy, the court declared, “Sponsorship without membership is like putting something on nothing,” emphasizing the integral connection between political membership and candidacy. The far-reaching consequences of this judgment were felt not only in its nullification of Governor Yusuf’s election but also in upholding the earlier decision of the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
This tribunal, in a virtual judgment delivered on September 20, had already ousted Governor Yusuf and declared Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressive Congress ,APC, as the rightful winner of the gubernatorial poll in the state.
The tribunal’s decision rested on the discovery that certain ballot papers pivotal to declaring Yusuf the winner were neither signed nor stamped by the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC. Consequently, 165,663 votes for the NNPP candidate were deemed invalid, resulting in a significant reduction in his overall tally.
Governor Yusuf, undeterred, challenged the tribunal’s decision, alleging a misapplication of the law. However, the Court of Appeal’s unanimous ruling upheld the tribunal’s findings, solidifying the earlier declaration of Gawuna as the legitimate victor in the governorship election.
This legal saga serves as a testament to the judiciary’s role in upholding the integrity of the electoral process. As the legal battle unfolds, it leaves a lasting impact on Kano State’s political landscape, underscoring the critical importance of adherence to electoral laws and due process.
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