JUST IN: Tribunal Overturns Kano Governor Election Result, Unseats NNPP’s Abba Kabir

In a monumental decision, the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has ousted Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, recognizing the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, as the winner of the election held on March 18.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https.bigpenngr.com) reports that Yusuf, who ran under the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), was initially proclaimed the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the March poll.

However, the tribunal panel, composed of three members, declared on Wednesday after considering the petitions that the certificate of return given to Yusuf by the INEC should be recalled. Instead, a certificate of return is to be issued to Gawuna.

The panel ruled out 165,663 of Yusuf’s total votes as invalid, citing the absence of stamps or signatures on the corresponding ballot papers, therefore deeming them invalid.

According to Channel TV report, this pivotal ruling arrives six months following the initial concession of defeat by the APC candidate, Gawuna, to Yusuf after INEC’s certificate of return was given to the NNPP candidate.

Back on March 29, in a brief audio statement, Gawuna conveyed that his religious beliefs as a “good Muslim” directed him to accept the election results, no matter the outcome.

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He further explained that despite his campaign team’s request for a review of the election results by INEC, the commission had, in fact, confirmed Yusuf as the winner of the election upon review.