The Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Inyang Okoro and a panel of five judges, has concluded hearings and reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State.
It can be recalled that the instant appeal seeks to challenge the ruling of the Appeal Court, which ousted him from office.
The culmination of closing arguments from both parties marked the conclusion of proceedings, as Yusuf and the New Nigeria People Party sought redress against the Appeal Court’s November 17 decision.
This ruling had affirmed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Yusuf Gawuna, as the rightful winner of the March 26, 2023 governorship election.
Yusuf, who had his electoral victory invalidated by the electoral tribunal and subsequently upheld by the Appeal Court, remained resolute in his quest to reclaim his mandate through the Supreme Court.
The initial tribunal, led by Justice Oluyemi Osadebay, annulled Yusuf’s election, citing 165,663 votes as invalid due to unsigned and unstamped ballot papers, deemed non-compliant by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, Yusuf pursued an appeal, which led to the Appeal Court’s ruling deeming him unqualified to contest the election. Justice M.A Adumeh, leading the three-member panel, emphasized the absence of Yusuf’s name in the membership register of his political party, a crucial prerequisite for candidacy as stipulated by electoral laws.
Quoting Section 134 of the electoral act, Justice Adumeh underscored the necessity for a party to have the names of its registered members in both hard and soft copies.
