In a groundbreaking decision, the Supreme Court has unequivocally affirmed Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf of the NNPP as the duly elected and returned Governor of Kano State, overturning earlier rulings by the tribunal and lower courts. The verdict, delivered by Justice Inyang Okoro JSC, marks a significant turn of events in the legal battle surrounding the 18th March Governorship poll.
The tribunal and lower court had previously ousted Governor Kabir Yusuf and upheld the petitioner, the APC, and its candidate Gawuna. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling has now nullified those decisions, reinstating Governor Kabir Yusuf to his rightful position.
Justice Inyang Okoro, in delivering the lead judgment, meticulously addressed the discrepancies in the earlier decisions. The deduction of 165,616 votes from the Governor’s results, based on the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, was found to be unfounded. The absence of INEC marks on certain ballot papers was deemed insufficient to render them invalid, and there was no conclusive evidence to suggest these ballots were not used in the election.
The apex court decisively set aside the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of the tribunal’s decision, restoring all the contested ballot papers to Governor Yusuf. In a critical assessment of the lower court’s evaluation of the ballot papers, Justice Inyang Okoro highlighted a fundamental misconstrual amounting to perversion.
On the issue of membership and nomination, the Supreme Court reiterated its stance that the nomination or sponsorship of a candidate for an election is solely the prerogative of the political party. This affirms Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf’s legitimacy as the NNPP’s chosen candidate for the Kano State governorship.
The Supreme Court’s ruling not only reinstates Governor Kabir Yusuf but also serves as a testament to the court’s commitment to upholding electoral justice and fairness. The decision carries far-reaching implications for Kano State’s political landscape, marking a significant chapter in the state’s governance.
