Kano State 2023 Governorship Election Tribunal Overturns Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Victory | APC’s Nasiru Gawuna Wins

In a virtual ruling via Zoom, the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has invalidated Abba Kabir Yusuf’s victory and declared Nasiru Gawuna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the rightful winner of the March 18 governorship poll. This decision follows weeks of legal arguments presented by both parties.

Tribunal Reverses Kano State Initial Outcome

In the initial declaration of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the candidate from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) was proclaimed the victor, holding a significant margin of 128,897 votes. This declaration, however, prompted the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest the results, leading to the recent ruling by the tribunal.

In a significant development, a three-member panel presiding over the tribunal ruled in favor of the APC’s candidate, overturning the previous declaration. This decision, therefore, mandates a reevaluation of the electoral outcome in the 2023 Kano State Governorship Election.

Moreover, as a consequence of this ruling, the tribunal ordered the withdrawal of the certificate of return initially issued to the NNPP candidate and instructed the issuance of a new certificate to the APC’s candidate, Gawuna. This substantial alteration in the outcome of the election underscores the significance of the tribunal’s role in upholding the integrity of the electoral process.

Furthermore, the tribunal identified and invalidated a significant number of votes—specifically, 165,663 votes—due to the presence of unstamped and unsigned ballot papers. This meticulous attention to the integrity of the election process demonstrates the tribunal’s commitment to ensuring that every vote cast adheres to the established electoral guidelines and procedures.

In summary, the tribunal’s ruling has introduced a significant shift in the Kano State Governorship Election’s outcome, reflecting the importance of due process and adherence to electoral regulations in upholding the integrity of democratic elections in Nigeria.

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