The Kano State Government Imposed a 24-hour Curfew in the State following the removal of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf by the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
The Curfew, effective from 6 pm on Wednesday to 6 pm on Thursday, was Announced by the State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Gumel.
He warned that those who Violated the Curfew would be Arrested and face legal consequences.
Apprehensive Traders quickly closed their Shops in major Markets and shopping plazas across the State, and Residents rushed home after the Tribunal Invalidated Governor Yusuf’s Election.
The Tribunal declared Nasir Gawuna, the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the Winner of the March 2023 Governorship Election in the State.
The Court’s ruling came weeks after Lawyers for both Parties presented their closing Arguments on August 21.
According to the Tribunal, 165,663 votes for Governor Yusuf were Invalid because the ballot Papers were neither Signed nor Stamped, rendering them Ineligible.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had Initially declared that the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) polled 1,019,602 votes, defeating the APC Candidate who scored 890,705 votes.
The APC, dissatisfied with the results, filed a Petition with the Tribunal to challenge the Electoral body’s declaration.
In its Verdict, the Tribunal stated that Sponsorship and Party membership Issues were Internal matters for the Party to resolve.
Reacting to the Judgment, the acting National Chairman of the NNPP, Abba Ali, criticized the Tribunal’s decision, comparing it to the 2019 Governorship Election where he claimed the Tribunal overturned the People’s mandate.
He called on NNPP supporters to remain calm and peaceful, asserting that the Judgment would not stand.
The NNPP’s Legal Counsel, Bashir Wada, confirmed that his Clients would appeal the Tribunal’s Judgment.
He expressed confidence that the decision would be overturned on Appeal, citing similar cases in other states.
Ladipo Johnson, the Spokesperson for the NNPP Presidential Campaign Council, also stated that the party would appeal the Verdict.
