The Kano State Governorship Election Tribunal has sacked Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was declared winner of the March 18 gubernatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Three-man panel, on Wednesday ordered the withdrawal of the certificate of return issued to Governor Yusuf by INEC.
The tribunal gave the final judgement after cancelling some votes recorded by the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, candidate and Kano Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
According to the Presiding Judge, Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadabey said the margin of votes scored by the NNPP was not enough to give Governor Yusuf victory.
The certificate will now be issued to Yusuf Gawuna of the APC, according to the judgment transmitted virtually via Zoom.
The APC had challenged the election of 60-year-old Kabir Yusuf. Gawuna, the APC candidate in the election was the anointed candidate of the immediate former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and current APC National Chairman.
Kabir Yusuf on the other hand was the anointed candidate of Ganduje’s political rival, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who is also a former governor of the state.
In the petition, the APC asked the tribunal to nullify the victory of Kabir Yusuf on the grounds that the election was conducted in violation of the Electoral Act 2022, among others.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the NNPP and Governor Kabir Yusuf as the respondents were listed as the respondents in the petition.
Delivering judgement on September 20, the tribunal agreed with the arguments presented by the APC that there were irregularities and substantial non-compliance with electoral laws during the election.
