There is intense apprehension and ambiguity among supporters of the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP and All Progressives Congress, APC in Kano state ahead of the Supreme Court judgment on governorship election, Daily Telescope, observed.
The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its verdict this month on the petition filed by the incumbent Governor of Kano state, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf of the NNPP challenging the ruling of the Appeal Court.
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Daily Telescope reports that at the end of March 18, 2023 governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has declared NNPP’s Yusuf as winner of the election, but his political opponent, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna of the APC challenged his victory at the tribunal.
The tribunal in its verdict sacked governor Yusuf and declared APC’s Gawuna as authentic winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.
Not satisfied with the judgment, Yusuf headed to the Appeal Court and sought for redress. However, the appellate court upheld the verdict of the tribunal, thereby affirming Gawuna as winner of the March 18 governorship poll.
The verdicts of the two courts had sparked political protest and rallies among supporters of the two major political parties. The peaceful protests were organized by women organisations and various pressure groups.
The NNPP’s supporters had continued to fault both the tribunal and Appeal courts’ verdicts, describing them as miscarriage of justice.
They continued to fault the Appeal Court ruling capitalizing on the controversy that arose after the True Certified Copy of the judgment was released. According to them two different judgments were delivered; one of which is against and the other in favour of the incumbent governor.
However, their counterparts of the APC celebrated the two verdicts which favoured their candidate.
Beside peaceful protests and rallies that rocked parts of the state since the announcement of the verdicts, stakeholders and supporters of the two political parties also engaged in rigorous prayers seeking divine intervention for the victory of their respective candidates.
The supporters of the two political parties continued to voice their opinions regarding the verdicts through protests, rallies and radio programmes.
However, the continued trepidation among NNPP and APC supporters, invites quick intervention of security agencies with a view to averting conceivable breaking of law and order in the state. The police authorities banned all forms of political protests and rallies in the state.
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Also, the Police Commissioner in the state, Muhammed Usaini Gumel summoned leaders of the two political parties for a meeting that was meant to sensitize them on the need to promote peaceful coexistence among their followers.
Daily Telescope further learnt that, at the end of the meeting, a peace accord was signed between leaders of the two parties after they promised to sensitise their supporters on the need to embrace peace before, during and after the Supreme Court verdict.
Some residents, who spoke to Daily Telescope, expressed divergent views regarding the most awaited Supreme Court verdict.
Alhaji Kabiru Musa, an ardent supporter of the incumbent governor of the state, Abba Kabir Yusuf, said: “all we are waiting is affirmation of Abba Kabir as winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship election and anything short of that will be considered as injustice.
“Everybody knows that our candidate won the election with wide gab, why did the courts overturn his victory in favour of the APC? This is injustice and we will not accept it. We hope the Apex court will quash the verdicts of the Appeal court.”
Contrary to Musa’s view, Ibrahim Muhammad said politicians should always allow the judiciary to exercise its constitutional obligations in this kind of situation, noting that “It is unfair for the politicians to interfere in the judiciary’s affairs. This is a court matter therefore; we should allow the judiciary to decide who the authentic winner of the election is. This is what laws stipulate.
“If in the end, the Supreme Court decides that Guwuna is the authentic winner, if it affirms the incumbent governor, we should accept the verdict in good faith and support whoever emerges victorious to develop Kano.”
Alhaji Naziru Sulaiman, a die-hard supporter of the APC, said “We have been vindicated at both tribunal and Appeal courts and we hope that even at the Apex court, APC’ Gawuna will emerge victorious.
“The tribunal has sacked governor Yusuf and declared Gawuna winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship poll and the Appeal court affirmed the verdict of the tribunal. We are optimistic that the Apex Court will also do the same.”
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