The National Working Committee (NWC) of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has strongly criticized the ruling of the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which overturned the victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, as the winner of the March 18, 2023, governorship election in the state.
Reacting to the ruling yesterday, the NNPP Acting National Chairman, Abba Kawu Ali in a statement who vowed that the party will appeal the judgment, said, “New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP receives with utter inredulity and disbelief the judgment of the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal on the March 18, 2023, Governorship election.
“The reported judgment nullified the free, credible and globally acclaimed fair election of our Governorship Candidate, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf and brazenly awarded the election to the APC Candidate, Nasiru Gawuna.
“The Tribunal arrived at this unjust judgment by unfairly subtracting 165,663 votes from the Governor’s tally in order to enable it unfairty award the election result to the Candidate of the ruling APC.
“In doing so, the Tribunal obviously affirms its belief that the vote tally of the APC Candidate was sacrosanct.
“The judgment of the 3-man Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is laughable and nothing but a pure miscarriage of justice.
“The decision of the TRIBUNAL is a slap on the face of Constitutionalism and rule of law and is capable of further discouraging the electorate from having confidence in the judiciary.
“The NNPP recalls with regret that this Tribunal has simply replayed the unholy script of 2019 by overturning the will of the people and awarding election results to those who evidently lost the election.
The NNPP will appeal this most unfair judgment. We call on millions of our supporters in Kano and in the rest of the country to remain calm and maintain the peace.
“This lopsided judgment cannot stand on the altar of natural justice.”
Ali argued that the tribunal’s judgment unfairly subtracted 165,663 votes from Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s tally to favor the APC candidate, Nasiru Gawuna. He expressed concern that such rulings undermine constitutionalism, the rule of law, and erode confidence in the judiciary.
He further emphasized that the NNPP would not accept the ruling and called on their supporters to remain calm and peaceful. Ali stated that the judgment could not stand on the principles of natural justice.
The NNPP’s reaction comes in response to the tribunal’s decision, which declared the APC candidate as the winner of the election, a decision that has sparked controversy and legal action.
