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There is heavy in and around the Supreme Court of Nigeria Complex in the three arms zones of Abuja ahead of the judgment in the Kano State governorship election appeal.
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The Supreme Court is expected to deliver judgment on seven states – Lagos, Plateau, Bauchi, Abia, Ebonyi Zamfara, and Cross River state.
The Judgments in the Kano and Plateau appeals are the most anticipated because the lower courts had sacked the incumbent governors.
The Guardian observed that security operatives from regular and plain-clothed police units have been deployed to the Court’s main entrance to block unauthorized movements of humans and vehicles into the complex premises.
The Kano state governor, Abba Yusuf, and his party NNPP, had filed an appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which had affirmed his sacking as earlier pronounced by the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
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The tribunal had sacked Yusuf and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw his certificate of return and instead issue the same to Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
However, not satisfied with the Tribunal’s judgment, Yusuf approached the Appeal Court. But the appellate court had, while affirming his sack, further held that the governor was not a member of the party as of the time of the election and could not have been said to have been properly sponsored for the election.
While the Plateau, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang’s election was upheld by the Plateau State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos but the appeal court overturned his victory and declared Nentawe Goshwe of the APC the winner of the election.
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The court ruled that the failure of the PDP to comply with the order of the Plateau State High Court in Jos directing it to conduct valid ward, local governments, and state congress.
Present in the court on Friday were four governors: The governors are Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Abba Yusuf of Zamfara State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
Also in court is the immediate past Governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong.
The justices of the supreme walked in at exactly 9.27 am to commence delivery of judgments.
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