Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf said he would be contesting the verdict of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja quashing his victory at the March 18 governorship election.
Mr. Yusuf and his party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), said the judgement by the Court of Appeal endorsing an earlier verdict by the Kano State Elections Petitions Tribunal was a miscarrage of justice. The Appeal Court upheld the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, as the rightful winner, following the invalidation of votes received by Yusuf.
“We are optimistic that the Supreme Court will, by the grace of Allah SWT, set aside these miscarriages of justice by the Tribunal and the Appeal Court, and reaffirm our mandate, as given by the good people of Kano State,” Yusuf said in a statement.
“The governor further urged the people of Kano to maintain peace and continue their normal activities, assuring them that the necessary measures have been taken to ensure their safety and security. He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to continuing its laudable projects and programs aimed at restoring Kano’s lost glory.
“Finally, I call on the good people of the state and other well-meaning Nigerians to continue to pray for Allah’s mercy and protection to save the state from the injustice of mischief makers, who are desperately scheming to hijack power through the back door and return the state to the dark ages.”
Meanwhile, former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, said the APC will be waiting for Yusuf’s appeal to the Supreme Court. He argued that the Tribunal and the Court of Appeal rightly dispensed justice in the matter and the Supreme Court will do the same.
“There is nothing wrong for them to go to the Supreme Court. We, too, are ready to meet them in the Supreme Court. And Inshallah, we will win in the Supreme Court as well,” said Ganduje.
