Tight Security in Kano as Tribunal Set To Pass Judgement Wednesday

Heavy security has been deployed in most of the strategic locations in Kano State as the delivery of the judgment between Abba Kabiru Yusuf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  and Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is fixed for October 2.

The tribunal sitting at Miller road presided over by Justice Halima Shamaki, through the court registry, informed the parties that the three-man panel would deliver its verdict on Wednesday while both parties have moblised their supporters to seek spiritual intervention in their favour.

Abba Kabiru Yusuf(1st petitioner) alongside PDP (2nd petitioner) had  dragged Independent National Electoral Commission INEC (1st respondent), Abdullahi Umar  Ganduje(2nd respondent)  and APC(3rd respondent) before the tribunal challenging the declaration of Ganduje as the winner of  Kano State governorship election.

Abba in his final written addresses urge the court to null and void the election of Governor Ganduje.

He further pleaded with the tribunal to declare the results that was returned during the governorship election as null and void.

Ganduje through his team of  lawyers told the court that  the petitioners have failed to discharge their burden on prove.

The respondents further urged the court that the exhibits that were tendered from the bar  by the petitioners were not  Certified True Copies (CTC) therefore pray the tribunal to dismiss the petition. In its entirety.

Ganduje through his counsel, Offiong Offiong (SAN) submitted that, Abba Kabiru invoked presumptions in attempt to prove to the court that he was duly elected  as Kano state governor, praying the court to dismiss the claims made by the petitioners.

Responding to the submissions made by the respondent,  counsel to the petitioners, Kanu Agabi(SAN), urge the court to ignore the  response from the respondents on the issues raised.

Agabi said on March 9, 2019, elections were held and results were announced, adding that Yusuf of the PDP scored the highest number of votes unfortunately INEC refuse to declare PDP as the winner of that election.

He argued that the rerun election held on March 23 is null and void, stressing that therefore the results from the rerun, which declared Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as duly elected Kano State governor  was null and void, that the court should declare the results of the 9th of march 2019 as the valid results and return PDP and its candidate Abba Kabiru Yusuf as the winner of the election, urging the tribunal to so hold.

The justice Shamaki led tribunal will on Wednesday make judicial pronouncement on the submissions raised by the parties laying claims to Kano Government House.

However, security has been beefed up on Tuesday in the ancient city of Kano to forestall any threat to peace and stability ahead of the tribunal judgement.

When some areas of the state were visited on Tuesday, it was observed that combined security forces, comprising Mobile Police Force and Civil Defense operatives, are  stationed at the Kano State High Court, Miller road as well as various strategic locations within the  city.