In a legal saga amplifying Kano State’s political landscape, the Supreme Court has yet to deliver its final say in the appeal brought by Governor Abba Yusuf.
This appeal challenges the decisions of both the Court of Appeal and the State Election Petitions Tribunal that culminated in Yusuf’s ousting from office.
The courtroom, led by Justice John Okoro and composed of five eminent jurists, deferred the judgment after the involved parties presented their arguments and briefs.
During the hearing, Justice Okoro urged the legal counsels to collaborate and mutually agree on the priority of nine appeals and cross-appeals. This accord would decisively impact the precedence of these cases, with the ruling affecting the remaining legal contentions.
Upon unanimous consent, the primary appeal, central to Yusuf’s fate, was slated as the foremost concern, with secondary cross-appeals contingent on its outcome.
The legal skirmish witnessed an exchange between INEC’s Counsel Abubakar Mahmoud and Yusuf’s legal representative, Wole Olanipekun. Mahmoud contested the admissibility of certain testimonies, asserting their incompetency as they were not initially presented during the primary petition at the Tribunal.
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Mahmoud reaffirmed the authenticity of the 165,616 disputed ballot papers, dispelling notions that their legitimacy fell under the purview of voters on election day.
Conversely, Olanipekun rebuffed the annulment of votes, contending that INEC’s guideline inconsistencies do not warrant the nullification of election results. He pointed out that an expert witness testified to the insignificance of the ballot discrepancies.
The APC’s Counsel, Akin Olujimi, underscored the constitutional significance of Section 177(c) in the case, underscoring the constitutional weight of the matter.
The appellate court’s decision and the Election Petitions Tribunal previously revoked Abba Yusuf’s win, upholding Nasiru Gawuna of the APC as the rightful governor of Kano. The Supreme Court’s awaited judgment stands as the pivotal determinant in shaping Kano’s political future.
