Governor Yusuf’s removal sparks protests that shake Kano

Kano State has been engulfed in protests since an Appeal Court removed Governor Abba Yusuf from office.

This occurred on Wednesday while police dispersed demonstrators around the state’s Dan Agundi region.

The Certified True Copy of the ruling, which was made available to the public and looked to be at odds with the appeal court’s decision, was followed by more objections.

As they called for justice, several of the demonstrators declared that they were prepared to die.

After the governor was fired, Kano police promised to crack down on any group demonstrating within the state.

The state governorship election petitions tribunal dismissed Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in September 2023, despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having pronounced him the winner in March 2023.

The Court of Appeal upheld the ruling many months after the event. It concluded that Yusuf was ineligible to run for office since he was not listed in the NNPP’s registration. Tensions have arisen in the North-West state after the court named Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the poll’s victor.

READ ALSO: Kano assembly receives additional N24bn supplementary budget from Gov Yusuf

The appellate court dismissed three governors who INEC had announced as the victors of the March 2023 election last week. The appeal court removed three governors, all of whom are members of opposing parties.

Eight months after the poll was deemed inconclusive, the appeal court in Zamfara fired Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor Dauda Lawal. The court mandated that INEC hold new elections in the state’s three local government districts. The two front-runners in the contest are Bello Matawalle of the APC and Lawal of the PDP.

In Plateau State, the appellate court dismissed Caleb Mutfwang of the PDP on Sunday and directed INEC to grant Nentawe Goshwe of the APC a Certificate of Return. The party, according to the court, disobeyed the injunction for a legitimate congress to be held in each of the state’s 17 local government districts.