The Supreme Court has scheduled the hearing of the appeal in the Kano State governorship dispute for Thursday. Governor Kabir Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) is contesting the decision of the Appeal Court, which affirmed the tribunal’s verdict that removed him from office and declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 11 governorship election.
Barrister Bashir Tudun Waziri, the counsel for Governor Yusuf, confirmed that the legal team representing the governor and his party had received the hearing notice. The Appeal Court’s three-member panel had dismissed Governor Yusuf’s appeal, stating that he was not a registered member of the NNPP at the time of the governorship election.
A certified true copy (CTC) of the judgement later surfaced, revealing conflicting orders. In the lead judgement by Justice Moore Adumein, he stated, “I will conclude by stating that the live issues in this appeal are hereby resolved in favour of the 1st respondent and against the appellant.” Both the APC and NNPP interpreted the judgement as affirming their victory in the election.
However, the NNPP filed a notice of appeal before the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the governorship election petition tribunal’s ruling. Gboyega Awomolo, SAN, the counsel for the appellant, listed 10 grounds for challenging the appeal. He specified that the appellant is challenging “the entire judgement of the Court of Appeal, save and except the conclusion and orders at page 67 of the duly certified true copy, CTC, including the order as to cost favourable to the appellant.”
