Following the Court of Appeal judgment upholding the tribunal verdict, the Kano State Police Command on Monday warned of any move by some party supporters plotting to stage violent protests in the state.
According to the Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Usaini Gumel, who conveyed the warning through the Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, whoever attempts to disrupt the peace in the State will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law, adding that there was credible information at the Command’s disposal that some groups of political party supporters were using unconventional media platforms, mobilising people and planning to hit the streets in protest to the Kano State Governorship Appeal Court’s verdict which was delivered on Friday, 17th November 2023.
He said, “The information revealed that the protesters intend to shut down the State in an action which may likely result in violence.
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“It’s on this note that the police command issued a warning to residents of the state to be extra careful as whoever intends to conduct any protest or procession should do so by the provisions of the law.
“Furthermore, you will all recall that before the court ruling, the leaderships of both NNPP and APC had been invited by the Kano State Police Command, where a peace accord was signed on Thursday, 16th November 2023.”
He added that the objective of the peace accord was to maintain harmony and ensure that the political landscape in Kano State remained peaceful, irrespective of the judgment’s outcome.
“In furtherance, the leadership of the two political parties promised that no politically motivated clusters of people would be allowed at any location under whatever guise, their supporters would not engage in any mass action suggesting preparation for violent processions, protests, or celebrations that may trigger reactions, unguarded statements from their members likely to increase political tension or undermine the security arrangements and sanctity of the judiciary,” he added.
The Commissioner of Police called on all residents to maintain calmness and avoid any form of unlawful gathering, protest, or procession that may trigger violence.
The Informant247 had, on November 17, reported how the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja, sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State while upholding the verdict of the tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay which sacked Yusuf on September 20, 2023.
The lower court had declared 165,663 votes of Yusuf, who contested under the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), invalid because they were not signed or stamped by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), whereas the governor’s votes were reduced to 853,939 while those of Nasir Ganuwa, his All Progressives Congress (APC) rival, remained at 890,705.
Yusuf had rejected the tribunal verdict, which he described as “unfair” and “a miscarriage of justice”, and headed to the appeal court.
Wole Olanipekun, SAN, the lead counsel for Yusuf, at the court, asked that the tribunal’s judgement be set aside.
Kicking against the ruling on ballot papers, the senior lawyer said that was the first time in history that a tribunal would annul an election over non-signing of the back of ballot papers, arguing further that that was the first time that a political party would file a matter without joining its candidate as a party in the petition. The candidate would declare the winner of the polls.
But Akin Olujimi SAN, counsel for APC, countered him, saying the Appeal Court stated emphatically that the non-signing of ballots amounted to electoral malpractice.
The Informant247 had on Thursday reported that the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja had fixed November 17 for the judgment in the appeal of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s file to challenge his removal by the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
