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| Election Tribunal |
The Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has rendered a momentous decision, upending the outcome of the gubernatorial election held on March 18th. In a significant turn of events, the tribunal ruled in favor of Nasiru Gawuna, the candidate representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), thereby dethroning Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Remarkably, the verdict was disseminated through a virtual platform, Zoom, as the tribunal members were not physically present in the courtroom. This ruling comes after weeks of intense legal battles, with lawyers from both sides presenting their closing arguments on August 21st.
To provide context, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had initially declared the candidate from the NNPP as the victor, having secured 1,019,602 votes, while the APC's Nasir Gawuna trailed with 890,705 votes. This represented a notable margin of 128,897 votes. However, the APC chose to challenge these results by filing a petition with the tribunal.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who had contested the election under the banner of the NNPP, was initially declared the winner by INEC, prompting a congratulatory message from Nasiru Gawuna. Nevertheless, the APC persisted with its legal challenge.
The tribunal, composed of a three-member panel, delivered its judgment on Wednesday, issuing a substantial verdict. It decreed the invalidation of 165,663 votes previously counted in favor of Yusuf. The tribunal's reasoning behind this decision stemmed from the fact that these votes were cast on unstamped or unsigned ballot papers, rendering them ineligible. Consequently, the tribunal ordered the immediate withdrawal of the certificate of return that had been presented to Yusuf and instructed the issuance of a certificate of return to Nasiru Gawuna.
This ruling signifies a pivotal moment in the political landscape of Kano State, with far-reaching implications for its leadership and governance. The legal process has played a vital role in determining the rightful victor of the gubernatorial race, underscoring the importance of due process and transparency in electoral outcomes.
The implications of this judgement can be far reaching and time is yet to tell what it will imply for the good people of Kano state.
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