The Supreme Court has overturned lower court orders that sacked Kano State Governor Yusuff Abba.
The tribunal overturned Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party’s win after declaring 165,663 of his votes illegal. The tribunal determined that the deducted votes were from ballot papers that were not marked or signed.
He then went to the appeals court for redress. The appeals court confirmed the tribunal’s verdict while criticising the lower court for not dismissing the governor.
The appellate court ruled that the governor was not lawfully sponsored by the New Nigeria Peoples Party, so violating Section 177 (c) of the constitution.
However, the court certified Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress the winner of the election.
In the Supreme Court, Justice John Okoro ordered that all ballot papers from which the appellant votes were deducted be returned to the governor.
He stated that the document contained the INEC emblem and coat of arms, as required by the Electoral Act.
He also argued that party membership is an internal party matter.
cc: Punch Ng
