The Ancient City of Kano is currently heavily guarded by combined security forces ahead of the ruling of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja which has fixed today (Friday) to deliver judgement on the appeal filed by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf against the ruling of the state’s governorship election petition which removed him and installed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.
Tension has been building up in the state as intelligence reports suggest that there may be breakdown of law and other if the Appeal court upholds the ruling of the tribunal.
However, the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel had earlier announced that the police was ready and on standby for any eventuality.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, the police boss had said, “After the outcome of the forthcoming Kano Governorship Appeal Court judgement, the residents have every right to expresses their feelings, but that should be done in their respective home
“What we are avoiding is a situation where some people in the name of celebration or expressing sadnesses over the outcome of the judgement would truncate the peace Kano enjoys
”We will not tolerate that as police and other security agencies have adopted various security measures to confront any form of security threats in all parts of our supervision.”
Speaking further, CP Gumel affirmed that he was collaborating with other security agencies to ensure that there was no crisis in the state as a result of the keenly anticipated judgement.
“I am liaising with other heads of security agencies working in the state as we have deployed adequate personnel and equipment to identified strategic locations in and out side the metropolis to ensure security of lives and property of residents.
“This is to forestall any attempt to cause disturbance or breakdown of law and order.
“While the police and other security agencies are assuring the good people of the state of adequate security before, during and after the declaration of the appeal judgment, residents of Kano State are also expected to play their part in avoiding to be involved in the breakdown of law and order,” he said.
A resident of Kano City, Nazif Umar who spoke to FACTSHEET said that “there is security patrol everywhere as people rush to buy food items to help them stay indoors.”
The Kano State governorship election became very controversial after the state election petition tribunal chaired by Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay sacked Governor Abba Yusuf after deducting 165,663 of his votes and subsequently declared that Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna of the APC garnered the highest valid votes in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) winner of the election with a total votes of 1,019,602, while Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 890,705 votes. According to INEC, the NNPP candidate won the election with a margin of 128,897 votes.
However, with the deduction of 165,663 on the ground that the ballot papers were invalid as they were not signed by INEC officials, the APC candidate was declared the valid winner by the tribunal.