TheCable

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has rejected the tribunal judgement that sacked Abba Yusuf as governor of Kano state.

On Wednesdsy, the Kano state election petition tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Yusuf.

The tribunal also affirmed Yusuf Gawana of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor of the state.

Reacting to the judgment, Yusuf had described it as “a temporary setback”, adding that he has instructed his legal team to file an appeal against the ruling.

Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, Nwaeze Onu, acting deputy national chairman of the party, described the judgment as “most unfair’’.

Onu noted that the judgment was capable of eroding confidence in the judiciary.

“The judgment nullified the free, credible and globally acclaimed fair election of our governorship candidate,” Onu said.

“The tribunal arrived at this unjust judgment by unfairly subtracting 165,663 votes from Kabir-Yusuf’s tally in order to enable it to unfairly award the election result to the candidate of the APC.

“In doing so, the tribunal obviously affirms its belief that the vote tally of the APC candidate was sacrosanct.

“The supreme court in many cases has stated its position on this matter in earlier judgments.”

Onu said it would be a hard nut to crack for the tribunal to convince Nigerians that the NNPP won all other elections in Kano but the governorship race.

“For emphasis, NNPP’s presidential candidate, senator Musa Kwankwaso, defeated the candidate of the APC, senator Bola Tinubu in Kano state with a wide margin,” he added.

“In the same vein, NNPP won two senatorial seats as against APC’s one seat. NNPP won 18 house of representatives seats as against APC’s four.

“At the house of assembly elections, NNPP won a clear majority of seats as against APC’s meagre number of seats.

“And yet the tribunal believes it was over-voting that gave NNPP majority votes in the governorship election.”

Onu expressed the belief that the NNPP would get back its mandate within the ambit of the law.

“We call on the Judiciary to do the needful. We look forward to a more impartial judgment in the next round of litigation,’’ he said.

Onu also called on NNPP supporters to remain calm and be law-abiding.

He added that “the glaringly lopsided judgment cannot stand the test of natural justice and fair play’’.