Kano guber: Appeal Court verdict temporary setback — NNPP chieftain, Oguntoyinbo

A Chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Comrade Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo has described the judgement of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja which sacked Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf as a temporary setback saying the judgement cannot stand the test of time.

Ajadi who is set to pay a solidarity visit to Abba Yusuf in Kano, while reacting to the judgement on Friday, said the wish of millions of people of Kano will stand at the end of the day.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday affirmed the tribunal judgment which declared the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Nasiru Gawuna winner of the governorship election.

Delivering judgment on the matter, the appeal court held that Yusuf was not qualified to contest the election.

The three-member panel led by Justice M.A . Adumeh held that Yusuf was not in the membership register of his political party.

Citing a provision of the electoral act, he said a party must have the names of its registered members both in hard and soft copies.

However, in his reaction to the judgement, Oguntoyinbo who contested the governorship of Ogun State on the platform of the NNPP in the 2023 election said Yusuf will be affirmed as the Kano State Governor by the Supreme Court.

He called on the good people of Kano State to remain calm and avoid provocation from the opposition who are enjoying a temporary victory.

According to him, “I received the news of today’s judgement as a rude shock. But I see it as a temporary setback as the judgement cannot stand the test of time.

“It is surprising that the judgements of the two courts are even different. While the Tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Osadebay nullified the election of Governor Abba Yusuf by declaring 165, 663 of his votes invalid.

“The tribunal held that the ballot papers were not signed nor stamped by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“The Court of Appeal in its judgement held that Yusuf was not in the membership register of his political party.

“This is surprising, to say a candidate of the party, that campaigned across the nook and crannies of the state and was voted for overwhelmingly by the people is not a member of the party is unbelievable.

“I urged His Excellency, Governor Abba Yusuf to remain calm, as this judgement cannot stand the test of time.

“The people of Kano know that our party is the leading party in the state and this has been demonstrated in the other elections.

“NNPP has the highest members of the State Assembly, highest members of the national assembly from the state and we are with the grassroots.

“I will be in Kano soon to pay a solidarity visit to the people’s governor, Abba Yusuf.”

 

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