EXTRA: Kano APC asks members to fast and pray as guber dispute heads to s’court

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano has asked its members to fast and pray amid litigation over the state’s governorship election. 

Maigari Shehu, vice-chairperson of the APC in the north-west, confirmed the development to TheCable on Monday.

In September, the tribunal nullified the governorship election victory of Abba Yusuf, candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The tribunal affirmed APC’s Nasiru Gawuna as the duly elected governor of Kano.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Yusuf as the winner of the election after he polled 1,019,602 votes to defeat his closest rival, Gawuna, who scored 890,705 votes.

During the proceedings, the tribunal deducted 165,663 votes from what was recorded for Yusuf on the grounds that the ballot papers (165,663) were not stamped, signed and dated as required by law.

Displeased with the verdict of the tribunal, Yusuf headed for the appellate court. However, his efforts to alter the verdict of the tribunal proved abortive.

On Friday, the court of appeal sitting in Abuja, upheld the verdict of the tribunal sacking Yusuf.

On Saturday, Yusuf described the ruling of both courts as a “miscarriage of justice”, adding that he has informed his lawyers to proceed to the apex court.

The APC vice-chair in the north-west told TheCable that the party’s members had been instructed to continue fasting and praying as events unfold.

“Our members (APC), good people of Kano and other well wishers have been praying, observing voluntary fast for quite some time and obviously we (have been) asked to continue,” Shehu said.

Yusuf had expressed optimism that the supreme court will set aside the verdicts of the lower courts.