BREAKING: Tribunal Sacks Governor Abba Yusuf, Declares APC’s Gawuna Winner in Kano
The Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Wednesday sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasiru Gawuna, winner of the March 18 governorship poll.
Reading of the judgment was transmitted virtually via Zoom, a teleconference service as the panel members were not physically in court.
The ruling came weeks after lawyers of both parties made their closing arguments on behalf of their clients on 21 August.
After the declaration by INEC, Gawauna congratulated Yusuf, but the All Progressives Congress headed to court to challenge the victory.
The three-man panel, on Wednesday, ordered the withdrawal of certificate of return which INEC presented to Yusuf, and directed a certificate of return to be issued to Gawuna.
The court deducted 165,663 votes from Yusuf as invalid, stating that the ballot papers (165,663) were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election victory of Governor Bala Mohammed in the March 18 governorship election held in the State.
The tribunal dismissed the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
A three-member panel of Justices led by P.T Kwahar, in a judgment, on Wednesday, rejected the prayer of the petitioners to nullify the election.
The Tribunal held that the election was conducted in compliance with the new Electoral Act 2022.
