By Austin Ogwuda
Latest report from Kano city, Kano State, Northern part of Nigeria indicates that there is serious tension across the State.
Already, curfew has been imposed just as New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP under which platform the sacked governor Yusuf emerged vowed to appeal the judgment which became the first upset to be recorded in the current political dispensation.
Kano State Police Commissioner, Mohammed Usaini Gumel in a statement announced the strict enforcement of a 24-hour curfew, beginning from 6pm on Wednesday, 20th September 2023, to 6pm on Thursday, 21st September 2023 as part of measures to maintain law and order in the state.
CP Gumel who claimed that the order was sequel to a directive from the State government stated that “residents of Kano State are warned that violating this curfew order will have serious consequences. Anyone found in violation will be arrested and made to face the full force of the law”, he warned.
Meanwhile the National Working Committee, NWC of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP has described as laughable and nothing, but a pure miscarriage of justice.
Acting National Chairman of the Party, Abba Kawu Ali in a statement vowed that the party will appeal the judgment.
“New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP receives with utter disbelief the judgment of the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal on the March 18, 2023, Governorship election.
“The reported judgment nullified the free, credible and globally acclaimed fair election of our Governorship Candidate, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf and brazenly awarded the election to the APC Candidate, Nasiru Gawuna.
“The Tribunal arrived at this unjust judgment by unfairly subtracting 165,663 votes from the Governor’s tally in order to enable it unfairly award the election result to the Candidate of the ruling APC.
“In doing so”, the statement went on, “the Tribunal obviously affirms its belief that the vote tally of the APC Candidate was sacrosanct.
“The judgment of the 3-man Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is laughable and nothing but a pure miscarriage of justice.
“The decision of the Tribunal is a slap on the face of Constitutionalism and rule of law and is capable of further discouraging the electorate from having confidence in the judiciary.
“The NNPP recalls with regret that this Tribunal has simply replayed the unholy script of 2019 by overturning the will of the people and awarding election results to those who evidently lost the election.
“The NNPP will appeal this most unfair judgment. We call on millions of our supporters in Kano and in the rest of the country to remain calm and maintain the peace”, the statement added.
The Town Hall Media, reports that the panel of Judges that heard the case went into hideout and delivered the judgment via Zoom ostensibly because of threat to their lives for allegedly turning down bribe offers to them.