Confusion engulfed Kano State on Tuesday as a Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Court of Appeal judgment on the state’s gubernatorial election surfaced, presenting conflicting interpretations of the court’s decision.
While the widely reported verdict last Friday suggested that the appellate court upheld the petition tribunal’s decision to oust Governor Abba Yusuf, the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isa-Dederi, argued that the CTC of the judgment affirmed Yusuf’s victory at the polls.
In a press conference held on Tuesday night, Isa-Dederi referred to the written judgment, stating that the Court of Appeal set aside the Kano Election Petition Tribunal’s ruling for lacking merit. He emphasized, “The evidence contained on page 67 of the copy of the Appeal Court judgment released on Tuesday upheld the victory of Abba Kabiru Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party as duly elected Governor of Kano.”
The confusion stemmed from a three-member panel of the appeal court, which had dismissed Governor Yusuf’s appeal on November 17, 2023, based on his membership status and declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the March 25, 2023, governorship poll.
Isa-Dederi pointed out that page 67 of the certified true copy of the judgment clearly indicated the tribunal’s ruling that sacked the governor was set aside. He insisted that, contrary to the justices’ public announcement on November 17, the written evidence vindicated Yusuf as the legitimate governor.
Upon obtaining a copy of the CTC, it became apparent that there was a mix-up in the conclusions. Justice Moore Adumein, in his lead judgment, stated, “I will conclude by stating that the live issues in this appeal are hereby resolved in favour of the first respondent and against the appellant.”
The confusion deepened as the judge continued, “Therefore, I find no merit in this appeal which is liable to be and is hereby dismissed. The judgment of the tribunal in Petition No.: EPT/KN/GOV/01/2023 between: AL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) v. INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION & 2 ORS. delivered on the 20th day of September, 2023 is hereby set aside.”
In an apparent contradiction, the judge awarded N1,000,000.00 (one million naira only) as costs in favor of the appellant (Yusuf) and against the 1st respondent (APC). The conflicting statements in the judgment left the status of Governor Yusuf in limbo, with the apparent mix-up warranting further clarification from the judiciary. Both Justice Bitrus Sanga and Justice Lateef Ganiyu agreed with the lead judgment, adding to the perplexity surrounding the case.
