Supreme Court decides Gov polls controversy in Kano, 6 other states

Heavy security has been beefed around the Supreme Court of Nigeria Complex in the three arms zones of Abuja ahead of the for judgment in the Kano State governorship election appeal.

The apex court will also deliver judgment in Lagos, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Cross River states governorship elections.

The court begins sitting by 9a.m.

Judgments in the Kano and Plateau appeals are the most anticipated, because the lower courts had sacked the incumbent governors.

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, and his party NNPP, had filed an appeal against the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which had affirmed his sacking as earlier pronounced by the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

The tribunal had sacked Yusuf and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw his certificate of return and instead issue same to  Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

However, not satisfied with the Tribunal judgment, Yusuf had approached the Appeal Court. But the appellate court had while affirming his sack, further held that the governor was not a member of the party as of the time of the election and could not have been said to have been properly sponsored for the election.

Plateau, Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s election was upheld by the Plateau State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos but the Appeal Court overturned his victory and declared Nentawe Goshwe of the APC the winner of the election.

The court ruled that the failure of the PDP to comply with the order of the Plateau State High Court in Jos directing it to conduct valid ward, local governments, and state congresses before nominating its candidates for the various elective posts was a breach of the law. (NAN)

Related Articles