Politics
JUST IN: Court Reserves Judgment In Kano Governorship Appeal
JUST IN: Court Reserves Judgment In Kano Governorship Appeal
By Admin, Nov. 6,2023
The Appeal Court Sitting In Abuja Has Reserved Judgment In The Appeal Filed By Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf Of The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Against The Judgment Of The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal Which Declared The All Progressive Congress (APC) Flagbearer, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, Winner Of The Election.
It Could Be Recalled That A Three-Man Panel Of The Tribunal Led By Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay Had Sacked Yusuf On September 20, 2023, After Deducting 165,663 Of His Votes.
The Independent National Electronic Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Yusuf winner of the March 18, 2023 election, saying he garnered 1,019,602 votes to defeat Gawuna who got 890,705 of the votes cast.
But the APC approached the Tribunal, citing alleged electoral malpractice.
The Tribunal agreeing with the APC, nullified Yusuf’s election, adding that over 160,000 ballot papers “were not signed or stamped by INEC”.
Yusuf’s votes were subsequently reduced to 853,939 while Ganuwa’s 890,705 votes were not affected.
The governor then filed an appeal before the appellate court.
The APC, INEC and the NNPP also entered cross-appeals before the court.
On Monday, the governor’s lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun SAN (who was lead counsel for Tinubu at the PEPC), urged the court to allow the appellant’s appeal and set aside in its entirety, the judgement of the lower Tribunal.
Olanipekun argued that the lower Tribunal has created new precedents which depart from all the judgments made by the appellate or Supreme Court.
On the issue of ballot papers, he contended that this is the first time in the history of the court that a Tribunal will annul an election over non-signing of the back of ballot papers.
“In doing that, the lower Tribunal erred,” Olanipekun said.
He further argued that this was the first time that a political party filed a matter without joining its candidate as a party in the petition and the latter was declared winner of the polls.
“Can a political party be sworn after an election or take an oath?,” Olanipekun argued holding that the judgement of the lower Tribunal should not be allowed to stand
Akin Olujimi SAN, counsel for APC, in his reply on the issue of valid ballot, said the decisions of the Appeal Courts right from 2009 have emphatically stated if non signing of ballots amounts to electoral malpractice.
He argued that INEC regulations have set out what presiding officers are to do at the point of voting, adding that the back of ballot papers must be signed and dated.
He said where there is a failure of presiding officers to do the needful, it amounts to non-compliance to the Electoral Act.
On the APC candidate who was not joined as a party at the Tribunal, Olujimi said it is settled law that votes are cast for the party in an election and that any decision affecting a political party embraces all its members.
“Judgement in this appeal is hereby reserved to a date to be communicated to the parties,” the court of appeal said.
In the APC’s cross-appeal, Olujimi also urged the court to hold that the Kano State governor was not a member of the NNPP as of the time he was sponsored by the party.
A.B Mahmoud SAN, counsel for INEC, asked the appeal court to dismiss APC’s cross-appeal for lacking in merit.
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Former member of the House of Representatives, Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada, has declared his intention to contest the Kano Central Senatorial District seat, urging the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure free and fair primaries.
Sharada, who represented Kano Municipal Federal Constituency in the immediate past National Assembly, made the appeal on Thursday when he visited the APC State Secretariat in Kano to formally announce his ambition.
“I appeal to the national leadership of our great party to, for the sake of Allah (SWT) and His Prophet Muhammad (SAW), ensure fair play in our forthcoming primary election,” he said, drawing loud applause from his supporters.
Popularly known as Dan Karamin Sauro (small mosquito), Sharada said his decision was driven by a desire to contribute to the growth and development of Kano Central, leveraging his legislative experience and political connections.
“By the grace of Allah (SWT), I will be the next Senator to represent Kano Central in the National Assembly, and I promise that I will not fail my constituents,” he pledged.
He also assured of his commitment to strengthening the APC and supporting the re-election of President Bola Tinubu alongside Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, to sustain ongoing developmental programmes.
Welcoming the aspirant, APC State Chairman, Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa, described Sharada as a grassroots politician who had consistently worked for the progress of his people.
Doguwa further assured that the party would provide a level playing field for all aspirants in the forthcoming primaries.
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The Katsina State Commissioner for Environment, Hamza Sule-Faskari, has resigned to contest for the Funtua Senatorial seat.
The decision was in compliance with the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for public office holders intending to contest in the 2027 elections.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the electoral body has directed all public office holders intending to contest to resign their positions on or before March 31, 2026.
Sule-Faskari announced his decision on Monday in Katsina when he visited the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abdullahi Garba-Faskari, to formally submit his resignation letter.
He expressed appreciation to the Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, for the opportunity to serve the people as a commissioner.
The former commissioner also reaffirmed his commitment to remain loyal and continue supporting the governor and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Sule-Faskari further thanked the people of Katsina State for the support and cooperation they have given him during his tenure as commissioner.
NAN
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The concerned stakeholders and committed members of All Progressives Congress, APC in Demsa, Numan and Lamurde Local Government Areas of Adamawa have warned against factional politics for the unity and progress of the party in the state.
The stakeholders made the call during a joint press conference in Numan, led by Mr Paul Zidon, describing the recent defection of Gov Ahmadu Fintiri and his teaming supporters through due process to APC as welcome development.
He equally condemned the process followed by Hon. Kwamoti Laori, Member House of Representative for violating the due process.
According to him, Laori sidelined the duly recognized Local Government Executive Committee that represents the backbone of the party but selected three wards executive members each from Demsa, Numan and Lamurde to work with.
“This singular action is unacceptable. It undermines party structures, disrespects loyal members, and risks introducing dangerous factional politics into a party that our people have worked tirelessly to build.
“Let us be clear: APC in Numan, Demsa, and Lamurde is not a private political project belonging to a few individuals. It is a collective movement belonging to the people.
“Any attempt to bypass party structures, ignore elected executives, and create parallel political arrangements will only breed division and disunity.
“And we say today with one voice: “We reject factional politics. We stand for unity. We stand for party supremacy”, he said.
According to him, the strength of the APC lies not in individuals, but in the collective will of its members.
Zidon called on all party faithful to remain calm, united, and committed to the principles that brought them together-the shared vision of building a stronger Adamawa State and a better Nigeria under the APC.
The group appreciated the National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu and other stakeholders for his sacrifice and effort put in stabilizing the party and ensuring the realignment with defectors in the state.
“We wish to also use this opportunity to sincerely appreciate the visionary leadership of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose Renewed Hope Agenda continues to inspire millions of Nigerians and strengthen the foundation of the APC across the country” he said.
Mr Simon Ismael one of the stakeholder described the act as violation of the constitutional provision and urged the party to section ward executive that partake in violation of the due process.
All efforts to reach Laori to comment on the allegation label against him probe abortive.
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