• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

      EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences…

      PRNigeria logo fearured image

      EFCC Arraigns Ex-Convict, Other for Naira Abuse in Lagos

      EFCC Arrests 37 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Ilorin

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • Comptroller General Nigerian Customs Bashir Adewale

      Nigeria Customs, ICPC and the Audit of Conscience

      Customs Diplomacy: Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Ink Mutual Assistance Deal

      Comptroller General Nigerian Customs Bashir Adewale

      Nigeria, Belarus Forge Alliance to Combat Smuggling, Facilitate Trade

      President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and CG Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

      Tinubu Hails Customs Boss Wale Adeniyi on Historic Election as WCO…

      WTO Lauds Nigeria Customs for Embracing Global Trade Standards

  • National
    • Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada

      Customs Debunks Fake CBT Recruitment Shortlist Circulating Online

      NDLEA Logo

      NDLEA Intercepts UK, Saudi-Bond Cocaine Hidden in Lipsticks in Lagos, Arrests…

      Troops of the Nigerian Army giving a salute

      162nd Anniversary: Tinubu Salutes Nigerian Army, Hails Troops as Guardians of…

      MUSWEN Muslim Ummah of South West

      MUSWEN Renews Call for Shariah Courts to Regulate Affairs of Muslims

      Ribadu Proposes Reintegration of Military Veterans to Bolster National Security

    • Government
      • MUSWEN Muslim Ummah of South West

        MUSWEN Renews Call for Shariah Courts to Regulate Affairs of Muslims

        Corporate Affairs Commission

        CAC Unveils AI-Powered Registration Portal to Revolutionize Business Registration in Nigeria

        Employment: ICPC Secures Conviction of FAAN Staff

        Staff of PRNigeria with federal lawmakers

        Federal Lawmakers Endorse PRNigeria Fellowship, Pledge Support for Youth Empowerment

        G7 Countries

        Iran Must Never Possess Nuclear Weapons – G7 Declare

  • Security
    • Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada

      Customs Debunks Fake CBT Recruitment Shortlist Circulating Online

      NDLEA Logo

      NDLEA Intercepts UK, Saudi-Bond Cocaine Hidden in Lipsticks in Lagos, Arrests…

      Retired AIG Liman Shettima

      IGP Egbetokun Mourns Retired AIG Liman Shettima

      NAF

      NAF Hosts Nationwide Parley to Honour Veterans’ Courage, Sacrifice

      NIPSS Directing Staff behind the Queries Barrister Nima Salman Mann and Rear Admiral A.A. Mustapha

      Cybercrime Allegation: PRNigeria Petitions Police Against NIPSS Officials

  • Features
    • From SDP to ADA to ADC: Can the New Opposition Coalition…

      Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR

      Adeniyi: Lifting Nigeria to the Pinnacle of Global Customs Authority

      Nigeria’s Growth Numbers Tell Only Half the Story By Umar Farouk…

      NYSC Corps Members in Camp

      The Burden Too Many Nigerian Youths Bear Alone

      Combating Deepfake Videos: A Fight for Nigeria’s Soul By Mukhtar Ya’u…

  • State
    • NDLEA Logo

      NDLEA Intercepts UK, Saudi-Bond Cocaine Hidden in Lipsticks in Lagos, Arrests…

      MUSWEN Muslim Ummah of South West

      MUSWEN Renews Call for Shariah Courts to Regulate Affairs of Muslims

      Police Officer

      Police Foil Bandit Attacks in Katsina, Rescue Victims as Traditional Leader…

      Customs Hands Over N172m Worth of Cannabis to NDLEA in Ogun,…

      Combating Deepfake Videos: A Fight for Nigeria’s Soul By Mukhtar Ya’u…

  • Event
    • Troops of the Nigerian Army giving a salute

      162nd Anniversary: Tinubu Salutes Nigerian Army, Hails Troops as Guardians of…

      President & Chairman of Governing Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku

      NIPR Lauds Nigerian PR Firms for Outstanding Performances at 2025 SABRE…

      SCN NGO signs partnership with PRNIGERIA

      SCN NGO Seals Partnership with PRNigeria to Amplify its Humanitarian Projects

      NELFUND

      NELFUND Warns Students Against Fake Loan Application Portal

      EFCC Witness: Yahaya Bello Had No Property Dealings With EFAB

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home General Abba Vs Gawuna: Will the Supreme Court Deliver Unprecedented Judgement on Kano...
  • General
  • National

Abba Vs Gawuna: Will the Supreme Court Deliver Unprecedented Judgement on Kano Guber Tussle?

By
Prnigeria
-
January 4, 2024
Gov Abba Kabir Yusuf and Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna

Abba Vs Gawuna: Will the Supreme Court Deliver Unprecedented Judgement on Kano Guber Tussle?

After the tribunal and appeal court rulings over the gubernatorial elections between Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the candidate of All Progressive Congress (APC), and Abba Kabiru Yusuf, the incumbent Kano State Governor elected under the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party/(NNPP), there are feeling that apex court may deliver an unprecedented judgement.

Any moment from now, PRNigeria gathered that the Supreme Court of Nigeria will pass the verdict on the judgement it earlier reserved between the two contenders for the 2023 governorship election.

Recall that Governor Abba filed an appeal before the apex court challenging his sacking from office by an election tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

Mr. Yusuf was declared the winner of the Kano State governorship election held on 18 March by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC).

But the All-Progressives Congress (APC) challenged the election outcome, alleging electoral malpractices.

The APC camp had been enjoying a good atmosphere courtesy of the two previous judgements by the lower courts. Still, the situation seems to have taken a new dramatic twist after the hearing of the case as filed by Governor Yusuf at the Supreme Court.

This development has given some breathing oxygen to the NNPP camp, who now have more confidence than before, hoping the final Supreme Court ruling will be in their favour.

Recall the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on September 20, 2023, sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Nasiru Gawuna, as the winner of the March 18 election.

The court of three-man panel chaired by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay deducted 165,663 votes from Yusuf’s total as invalid votes, stating that the affected ballot papers were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid.

The ruling comes about six months after the APC candidate conceded defeat to Yusuf in the wake of INEC’s presentation of the certificate of return to the NNPP candidate.

Similarly, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on November 17, 2023, also nullified the election of Governor Yusuf, who had sought the court to set aside the lower court’s verdict.

Ruling on the matter, Justice Moore Adumein, who read the unanimous judgment of the Appeal Court, upheld the tribunal’s ruling, saying the governor was not qualified to contest the poll because he was not a member of NNPP when the elections were conducted.

Position of Yusuf Lawyer at Supreme Court
During the address at the Supreme Court, Governor Yusuf’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, said there was no legal basis for the tribunal and the appellate court to invalidate his client’s election on account of non-compliance with electoral guidelines.

He said the electoral guidelines did not envisage the cancellation of an election because the electoral umpire failed to stamp or sign the ballots.

But while arguing before the Supreme Court, Mr Olanipekun said an expert witness testified at the tribunal that only a fraction of votes – 1,886 ballots – were not signed, yet the courts nullified 165,616 votes.

Read Also:

  • Customs Debunks Fake CBT Recruitment Shortlist Circulating Online
  • NDLEA Intercepts UK, Saudi-Bond Cocaine Hidden in Lipsticks in Lagos, Arrests Other Suspects
  • From SDP to ADA to ADC: Can the New Opposition Coalition Unseat Tinubu in 2027?

The lawyer wondered why the governor should be punished for the failure of the electoral commission to stamp, date and sign the ballots used for the March election.

On the issue of Mr Yusuf’s membership of the NNPP, Mr Olanipekun referenced many cases where the Supreme Court held that another political party cannot challenge the membership of a political party.

Positions of Gawuna’s Lawyer at the Supreme Court
However, Mr Gawuna’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi, prayed to the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the concurrent findings of the courts.

Citing Section 42 of the Electoral Act and Regulation 19 of INEC, Mr Olujinmi argued that the returning officers of electoral umpire should have stamped, dated and signed the 165,616 ballots being disputed.

Mr Olujinmi disagreed with Mr Olanipekun that only 1,886 votes were said not to have been endorsed by INEC. He added that when the witness was cross-examined at the tribunal, the expert witness said 165,616 votes, and the evidence remained unchanged.

Referencing section 177 (c) of the Nigerian constitution, Mr Olujinmi contended that the lower court had jurisdiction to hear and determine the issue of Mr Yusuf’s membership of the NNPP.

The lawyer said that the NNPP produced Mr Yusuf’s membership register, his name was conspicuously absent, and Yusuf did not address the court.

Position of INEC Lawyer at the Supreme Court
Also addressing the Supreme Court panel, INEC lawyer Abubakar Mahmoud said the electoral commission provided all the ballots used in the Kano State governorship election.

“The ballot papers belonged to INEC. Those were our ballot papers in the area where the election took place,” Mr Mahmoud said, replying to Mr Okoro’s question about the source of the disputed ballots.

Mr Mahmoud further argued that it was not the duty of the electorate to check the source of a ballot at the polls before casting their votes.

Speaking on the issue of Mr Yusuf’s membership of the NNPP, Mr Mahmoud said, “This clearly is an internal affair of the party; it is not a constitutional breach.”

The Palpable Anticipation
Nonetheless, what the public is now eagerly anticipating seeing is whether the Supreme Court will, for the first time in the history of the State, nullify the election of the incumbent Governor in Kano or maintain the status quo of upholding his victory as declared by the electoral umpire – INEC.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had in recent years sacked some sitting Governors in Nigeria, thereby paving the way for their opponents to take over their positions.

These included Mukhtar Shehu of APC, whose victory was nullified in favour of Bello Matawalle of PDP in Zamfara State, Bayelsa governor-elect David Lyon of APC, who was replaced by Douye Diri of PDP and Emeka Ihedioha of PDP,, the Governor of Imo State who lost his seat to Hope Uzodinma of APC accordingly.

Notwithstanding, the ball remains rolling in the court of the five-member panel of the Supreme Court headed by John Okoro, who is set to seal the fate of Kano citizens any time from now.

Thus, the public continues to watch as the events keep unfolding.

The appeal lapses on 14 January 2024. Therefore, the Supreme Court must deliver judgment on the suit within the statutory 60 days it has to determine appeals on governorship election disputes.

By PRNigeria

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Abba Kabiru Yusuf
  • APC
  • Kano
  • Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna
  • NNPP
  • Supreme Court
Previous articleNOA Commends Daily Nigerian’s Investigative Report on Fake Foreign Varsity Degrees, Certificates
Next articleSaudi Arabia and Women Empowerment: Righting Past Wrongs
Prnigeria
Prnigeria

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada

Customs Debunks Fake CBT Recruitment Shortlist Circulating Online

NDLEA Logo

NDLEA Intercepts UK, Saudi-Bond Cocaine Hidden in Lipsticks in Lagos, Arrests Other Suspects

Retired AIG Liman Shettima

IGP Egbetokun Mourns Retired AIG Liman Shettima

NIPSS Directing Staff behind the Queries Barrister Nima Salman Mann and Rear Admiral A.A. Mustapha

Cybercrime Allegation: PRNigeria Petitions Police Against NIPSS Officials

‎FACT-CHECK: Was a Man Trapped in Ceiling after Trying to Hack FCMB Bank?

FACT-CHECK: Did a Man Catch His Wife and Driver “Knacking” in a Hotel Room?

Troops of the Nigerian Army giving a salute

162nd Anniversary: Tinubu Salutes Nigerian Army, Hails Troops as Guardians of National Unity

MUSWEN Muslim Ummah of South West

MUSWEN Renews Call for Shariah Courts to Regulate Affairs of Muslims

Police Officer

Police Foil Bandit Attacks in Katsina, Rescue Victims as Traditional Leader Abducted

Ribadu Proposes Reintegration of Military Veterans to Bolster National Security

DICON signs MoU with Saudi firm

DICON, Saudi firm sign MoU to produce security drones, satellites in Nigeria

Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya

Ex-COAS Urges Reforms in Recruitment, Training of Army, Harps on Prioritisation of Troops’ Welfare

Recent Posts

  • Customs Debunks Fake CBT Recruitment Shortlist Circulating Online
  • NDLEA Intercepts UK, Saudi-Bond Cocaine Hidden in Lipsticks in Lagos, Arrests Other Suspects
  • From SDP to ADA to ADC: Can the New Opposition Coalition Unseat Tinubu in 2027?
  • IGP Egbetokun Mourns Retired AIG Liman Shettima
  • NAF Hosts Nationwide Parley to Honour Veterans’ Courage, Sacrifice
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
Customs Debunks Fake CBT Recruitment Shortlist Circulating OnlineNDLEA Intercepts UK, Saudi-Bond Cocaine Hidden in Lipsticks in Lagos, Arrests Other SuspectsFrom SDP to ADA to ADC: Can the New Opposition Coalition Unseat Tinubu in 2027?IGP Egbetokun Mourns Retired AIG Liman ShettimaNAF Hosts Nationwide Parley to Honour Veterans’ Courage, SacrificeCybercrime Allegation: PRNigeria Petitions Police Against NIPSS Officials‎FACT-CHECK: Was a Man Trapped in Ceiling after Trying to Hack FCMB Bank?FACT-CHECK: Did a Man Catch His Wife and Driver “Knacking” in a Hotel Room?162nd Anniversary: Tinubu Salutes Nigerian Army, Hails Troops as Guardians of National UnityAdeniyi: Lifting Nigeria to the Pinnacle of Global Customs AuthorityMUSWEN Renews Call for Shariah Courts to Regulate Affairs of MuslimsPolice Foil Bandit Attacks in Katsina, Rescue Victims as Traditional Leader AbductedRibadu Proposes Reintegration of Military Veterans to Bolster National SecurityDICON, Saudi firm sign MoU to produce security drones, satellites in NigeriaEx-COAS Urges Reforms in Recruitment, Training of Army, Harps on Prioritisation of Troops’ Welfare
X whatsapp