KANO, Nigeria – In an unexpected turn of events, the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal ousted Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the true winner of the March 18 governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously announced Yusuf, who ran under the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), as the victor, an outcome that his APC rival, Nasir Gawuna, had initially congratulated him on.
The tribunal’s decision has sent shockwaves throughout the political landscape in Nigeria, leaving the NNPP to ponder its next legal moves while the APC celebrates the unexpected reversal of fortunes.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had not made an official statement at the time of writing. Still, sources close to him suggest that he is consulting with his legal team and party officials to decide the best course of action.
While the political climate remains tense following the tribunal’s surprising decision, all eyes are now on the NNPP and whether they will seek to appeal the judgment.
The shockwave from this political reversal is likely to reverberate through Nigerian politics for some time, throwing a spotlight onto the robustness and integrity of the electoral system in Africa’s most populous nation.
As the NNPP weighs its legal options, Kano State residents are left pondering what this means for the political stability and governance of a state already grappling with numerous social and economic challenges.
With tensions running high, security has been beefed up around key government buildings and public spaces in anticipation of public reactions to the tribunal’s decision which was delivered via Zoom.
What happens next is anyone’s guess, but one thing is certain: Kano State politics has been irrevocably altered, and the fallout may have far-reaching implications for future elections in Nigeria.
