- NNPP rejects Tribunal judgment as “a blatant miscarriage of justice”
The Kano Police Command has vowed to enforce a 24-hour curfew imposed by the Kano State government following the tension over the judgment delivered by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal (GEPT) in the State.
A statement by the Command and signed by Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Hussaini Gumel said those that violate the curfew expected to last till 6 pm today, Thursday, 21st September 2023, will face the wrath of the law.
According to him; “In view of the constitutional mandate of the Nigeria Police Force alongside the relevant internal security and law enforcement agencies to preserve law and order in the state, the Kano State Police Command has mapped out strategies in that direction and call on the good people of the state to give the necessary confidence and support.”
The Police boss said; “Going forward, Kano State residents are called upon to note that combined security forces have already been dispatched to the nooks and crannies, including the entry and exits of the state to ensure enforcement and strict compliance with the 24-hour curfew order as communicated by the state government taking effect from 6 pm of Wednesday, 20th September to 6 pm of Thursday, 21st September 2023. Violators will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Judgment Cannot Stand – NNPP
The ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State has rejected the judgment of the State Election Petition Tribunal, describing it as “laughable and a blatant miscarriage of justice”
The Party said it received the news with “utter incredulity and disbelief”, maintaining that a judgment cannot stand because it represents “a slap on the face of Constitutionalism and rule of law.”
The acting National Chairman of the party, Abba Kawu Ali, said in a statement that it was unfortunate the “judgment nullified the free, credible and globally acclaimed fair election of its governorship candidate, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf and brazenly awarded the election to the APC candidate, Nasiru Gawuna.”
He further said; “The Tribunal arrived at this unjust judgment by unfairly subtracting 165,663 votes from the governor’s tally in order to enable it to unfairly award the election result to the candidate of the ruling APC.
“In doing so, the Tribunal obviously affirms its belief that the vote tally of the APC candidate was sacrosanct.
Ali, while describing the judgment of the three-man panel as “laughable and a blatant miscarriage of justice”, said; “The decision of the tribunal is a slap on the face of Constitutionalism and rule of law and is capable of further discouraging the electorate from having confidence in the judiciary.
“The NNPP recalls with regret that this Tribunal has simply replayed the unholy script of 2019 by overturning the will of the people and awarding election results to those who evidently lost the election.”
Vowing that the Party will fight the injustice through all known legal procedures, the National Chairman said; “The NNPP will appeal this most unfair judgment. We call on millions of our supporters in Kano and in the rest of the country to remain calm and maintain the peace.”
Ali, who charged the people and all residents of the state to remain peaceful and law-abiding, assured thus; “This lopsided judgment cannot stand on the altar of natural justice.”
