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From Mustapha Hodi, Kano
Contrary to expected violence in Kano after the governorship election tribunal nullified the election of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, and declared Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner, the ancient city has remained calm on Wednesday.
The State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting at the Miller Road High Court declared Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as the rightful winner of the March 18, 2023 governorship poll.
Delivering its judgement via Zoom, the three-member tribunal chaired by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the NNPP, and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a fresh Certificate of Return to Nasir Yusuf Gawuna of the APC.
The Tribunal deducted 165,663 votes from Governor Yusuf’s total as invalid votes, stating that the ballot papers were not stamped or signed and therefore declared them invalid.
However, the city remained calm as people continued with their lawful business following the deployment of heavy security in the second most populous city in the country.
Our reporter, who went round some places around the city observed that nothing had changed in the commercial activities, as security agents, especially Police were seen deployed at strategic places in the event of possible break of low and order.
It was observed that all roads leading to the venue of the tribunal, held at Milla Road, were blocked since on Tuesday evening.
Also, heavy security was seen at the entrance of the government house, just as roads leading to the seat of power were also barricaded.
However, after the pronouncement, traders at the popular Sabongari market, an area inhabited by non indigenes, reportedly locked their shops and went home for fear of violence.
But, as at the time of filing this report, there is no reported violence across the commercial city.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, could not be reached, as he did not pick up the call of our reporter.
