The Kano State Government has applauded the judgment of the Court of Appeal that validated the conduct of the local government election in Kano. In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Abdullahi Waiya, the state government described the verdict of the Court of Appeal as victory for democracy, rule of law, and collective will of the good people of the state.

According to the statement, the judgment has further vindicated the commitment of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission to conducting credible, free and fair elections.

“In this regard, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commends the judiciary for its courage, fairness, and commitment to upholding constitutional order. He also appreciates the good people of Kano State for their calmness, resilience, and patience while awaiting the outcome of the legal process.

“This collective show of maturity reflects the political awareness and democratic spirit of our great state. The government remains steadfast in its commitment to grassroots development and will continue to support the democratically elected local government councils to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people,” Waiya said.

In a unanimous judgment, on Friday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal reversed the judgment given by a Federal High Court in Kano voiding the composition of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KASIEC) and the local council election it conducted on October 26, 2024.

The court, presided over by Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill, held that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain cases bordering on the composition of states’ electoral bodies and the qualification of members of such bodies.

The Court of Appeal allowed the three appeals filed by the Kano State Attorney General, the Kano State House of Assembly and KASIEC and struck out the suits filed before the Federal High Court (from which the judgment was derived) for want of jurisdiction.

It said the proper court with the required jurisdiction is the High Court of Kano State.In its fourth judgment on Friday, the Court of Appeal also reversed another judgment delivered by the same Federal High Court in Kano rejecting the list of candidates submitted to KASIEC by the Musa Kwakwanso faction of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) for the last local government election in Kano State.