We’ll Reclaim Our Mandate, It’s ‘Temporary Setback’ – Gov Yusuf 

• Slams ‘error-ridden’ judgment, heads to Appeal Court for justice

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – Sacked by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal (GEPT) on Wednesday, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state has appealed for calm and peace among residents of the State, vowing to reclaim the people’s mandate through all available legal means.

The Governor, who was reacting to the Tribunal’s judgment that gifted victory to his All Progressives Congress (APC) counterpart in the March 18, 2023, gubernatorial poll, Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, said there is no cause for alarm as the ‘error-ridden’ judgment was only a ‘temporary setback’.

Governor Yusuf told journalists a few minutes before midnight that the Appeal Court would do the right thing by correcting all the noticeable errors contained in the Tribunal’s judgment in order to ensure that justice is done.

Confident about upturning the Tribunal’s ruling at the Appellate court, the governor said; “My good people of Kano State! You would recall that on March 18, 2023, you came out en masse and voted for me as your Governor with a total vote of 1,019,602 and a margin of 128,897 votes between my humble self and the second-place candidate.

“Subsequently, I was duly sworn in as your elected Governor on May 29, 2023. You may also recall that the party that lost the election took us to court. However, after almost six months of proceedings at the governorship election petition tribunal, today Wednesday, September 20, 2023, the judges of the tribunal have in their own wisdom delivered their ruling.

“As human beings their judgment may not be absolutely perfect, there are errors and misapplication of the law as pointed out by our legal team. That is why our constitution provides for other stages to go on with, such as the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.”

On his next line of action, Governor Yusuf said;  “We have already instructed our legal team to appeal this judgment as soon as possible to ensure that justice is done. I have since directed our lawyers to obtain a copy of the judgment and appeal as appropriate.”

Urging the people of Kano to be calm and remain law abiding at all times, the Governor said the security agencies have been directed to ensure the full protection of the lives and properties of innocent citizens across the State.

According to him; “This government will continue to work for the development of our State in line with the promises we made while seeking your votes. We want to assure you that this will neither dampen our spirit nor slow us down as this is a temporary setback for our State which we will overcome by the grace of Almighty Allah (SWT).

“While thanking the good people of Kano State for their continuous support and prayer, let me further use this opportunity to call on them to continue to go about their businesses peacefully as the government would ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order across the State.”

Ahead of the Tribunal’s ruling, Governor Yusuf had sacked the Commissioner for Lands, Adamu Aliyu Kibiya, for threatening the lives of the judges should their verdict go against the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)

Similarly, the governor also sacked a Special Adviser on youths for unguarded utterances against the person of Vice President Kashim Shetima. Both incidents have contributed immensely to the tension that led to the Tribunal sitting and delivering its judgment virtually through Zoom.