Law

Kano Tribunal: INEC Reverses Decision, Drops Appeal Against Abba Yusuf’s Removal

Published

7 months ago

October 7, 2023

Stella Charles Akupue

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reversed its previous stance and decided not to appeal the removal of Abba Kabir Yusuf as Kano State Governor.

Breaking News: Alex Otti’s Victory Upheld as Tribunal Rules in Abia Governorship Election

To recap, the Kano State Governorship Election Tribunal had invalidated INEC’s declaration of Abba Yusuf as the state’s winner of the March 18 polls. The tribuTribunalead declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, as the election winner, instructing INEC to issue him a Certificate of Return.

In response to the tribunal’s decision to sack Abba Yusuf, INEC, in a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, announced its decision not to appeal the judgment. The letter, signed by the Head of Department (HOD), Legal, INEC, Suleiman Alkali, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), stated that INEC had received instructions from its national office to withdraw the appeal-related processes.

The letter explicitly stated, “I have been instructed by the Commission headquarters that INEC, as an impartial body, has no grounds for appealing any judgment. Consequently, the National Commissioner in charge of Legal Services and the National Commissioner in charge of the Kano zone are directed to withdraw the Appeal. All associated proceedings should be forwarded to the Kano Office.”

Meanwhile, Governor Abba Yusuf has filed a 42-ground appeal with the Appeal Court in Kano, seeking to overturn the Tribu Tribunals. He has enlisted the services of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Wole Olanipekun, to pursue his case. Olanipekun is leading a legal team consisting of Bode Olanipekun (SAN), Ibrahim G. Waru, and Akintola Makinde, with Wole Olanipekun & Co. serving as the legal firm representing Governor Yusuf at the Appellate Court. On the other hand, Chief E.O.B. Offiong (APC) remains the Counsel for the APC.