Kano guber: A’court reserves judgement in Abba Yusuf’s appeal

The court of appeal sitting in Abuja has reserved judgement in the appeal filed by Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano, against the verdict of the state governorship election petitions tribunal.

In September, the tribunal nullified the victory of Yusuf, candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), in the March 18 governorship election.

The tribunal also affirmed Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 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 proceeding, 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.

Yusuf was left with 853,939 votes after the deduction.

The court declared the 165,663 votes recorded from the affected ballot papers invalid while ordering INEC to issue a certificate of return to the APC candidate.

MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS

During the court of appeal sitting on Monday, Wole Olanipekun, lead counsel to Yusuf, argued that this is the first time in history that the tribunal would nullify the victory of a candidate over the non-signing of the back of the ballot papers.

Olanipekun prayed that the court should set aside the judgement of the tribunal.

Responding, Akin Olujimi, counsel to the APC, argued that the non-signing of the ballot paper is electoral malpractice.

Olujimi argued that INEC regulations stipulate that ballot papers should be signed.

After the arguments, the court reserved judgement in the matter noting that the date for the ruling  would be communicated to the parties.