GLITZ TV
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has affirmed the election victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in Kano State, overturning the decision of the Appeal Court. The court’s verdict reinstated 165,000 votes that were previously deducted by the election petition tribunal in September 2023, which had invalidated the votes due to the absence of necessary stamps or signatures on the ballot papers.
Initially, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Governor Yusuf as the winner with 1,019,602 votes, surpassing his closest rival, Nasiru Gawuna, who garnered 809,705 votes. However, the election petition tribunal nullified Yusuf’s victory, resulting in the installation of Nasiru Gawuna from the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the elected governor of Kano State. The Court of Appeal subsequently supported this decision, asserting that Governor Yusuf was ineligible to participate in the election.
Governor Yusuf, determined to challenge the ruling, took his case to the Supreme Court. The apex court clarified that the election petition tribunal had never declared him unqualified to contest the election. Moreover, the Supreme Court emphasized that matters concerning a candidate’s nomination are exclusively within the purview of political parties and are not subject to judicial review.
With the Supreme Court’s judgment, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s electoral victory is now confirmed, restoring him to his position as the duly elected governor of Kano State. The ruling has resolved the legal disputes surrounding the election outcome, bringing clarity and finality to the matter.
