INEC denies withdrawing from Kano guber appeal, reprimands officer

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has no intention of withdrawing from the appeal process in the ongoing Kano governorship election dispute.  

In a statement on Saturday, Sam Olumekun, national commissioner and chairman, information and voter education committee, said a letter written by the legal officer of its Kano office stating that the commission had withdrawn from the appeal was unauthorised. 

On Friday, there were reports that the zonal office of the commission had confirmed the withdrawal of its appeal in a letter issued by Suleiman Alkali, its legal officer.

Olumekun, however, said the letter had since been withdrawn and the officer “reprimanded”. 

“We wish to state categorically that the letter was not authorised. It has since been withdrawn and the officer reprimanded,” the statement reads.

“The public is therefore advised to discountenance the insinuation that the commission has withdrawn from the case or even worse abandoned the appeal.

“We wish to state categorically that where litigants join INEC in a case, the commission is under obligation to respond accordingly. 

“We have therefore instructed our lawyers to proceed in line with the extant policy of the commission. The policy has not changed.”

In April,  the All Progressives Congress (APC) filed a petition challenging the victory of Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

On September 20, 2023, the Kano governorship election petition tribunal sacked Yusuf and declared Nasiru Gawuna of the APC winner of the election.

However, Yusuf and the NNPP have filed an appeal against the tribunal’s judgment.