On Wednesday, the Kano State government implemented a 24-hour curfew to maintain order after the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal ousted Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigerian People’s Party.
Security was heightened in Kano following the tribunal’s ruling, which declared the All Progressives Congress candidate, Nasir Gawuna, the winner of the March 2023 gubernatorial election.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Gumel, confirmed the curfew and warned that those who violated it would face legal consequences.
Gumel emphasized the importance of cooperation from the public and mentioned that security forces were deployed throughout the state to enforce the curfew.
Before the curfew, traders closed their shops in major markets, and residents hurried home following the tribunal’s decision to invalidate Yusuf’s election and issue a new certificate of return to Gawuna.
The tribunal’s judgment came after weeks of legal proceedings, ruling that a significant number of Yusuf’s votes were invalid due to unsigned and unstamped ballot papers.
The Independent National Electoral Commission initially declared the NNPP as the winner, but the APC challenged the results.
In response to the judgment, the NNPP expressed disbelief, considering it a replay of the 2019 election.
They vowed to appeal the decision and criticized the tribunal’s handling of the case.
The NNPP’s legal counsel, Bashir Wada, confirmed their intent to appeal, expressing their belief that the judgment would not hold in the Court of Appeal.
Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf rejected the tribunal’s judgment, indicating their plans to appeal and describing the decision as unfair and unacceptable.
