THE Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has fixed Friday (tomorrow) for judgment in the appeal of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) against his All Progressive Congress (APC) rival, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.
A top govt official in Kano confirmed to News Point Nigeria, saying the court had officially communicated to lawyers of the appellant, Governor Yusuf.
The governor had filed an appeal to challenge the nullification of his election by the Kano Election Petition Tribunal.
This newspaper reports that a three-man panel of judges led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay sacked Yusuf on September 20, 2023, by declaring 165,663 of his votes invalid because “they were not signed or stamped by INEC”.
Yusuf had described the tribunal’s verdict as “unfair” and “a miscarriage of justice”.
Parties in the suit include Governor Yusuf and his party, NNPP as well as the opposition APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Worried about how political supporters might react to the judgement of the appellate court, the police in Kano have already raised the security level in the state with the deployment of more personnel to strategic places in the state metropolis.
The police have also banned political gatherings and raised the alarm about suspected “preparation for violent processions, protests, or celebrations that may trigger reactions”.
The state police commissioner, Usaini Gumel, who assured residents of adequate security before and after the judgement, advised residents against unguarded statements or engaging in violent protests or celebrations that may ignite reactions in the commercial city.
