Tight security as Supreme Court rules on six governorship disputes in Lagos and Kano states | Headline News
There is an uproar in and around the Supreme Court of Nigeria complex in Abuja's three arms zone ahead of the decision in the Kano state gubernatorial election appeal court.
The Supreme Court will rule on seven states: Lagos, Plateau, Bauchi, Abia, Ebonyi-Zamfara and Cross River states.
The decisions in the Kano and Plateau appeals are most anticipated as lower courts have removed the sitting governors.
The Guardian reported that security guards from both the civilian and plainclothes police forces were stationed at the court's main entrance to prevent unauthorized movement of people and vehicles into the complex.
Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and his political party, NNPP, have appealed against the Court of Appeal's decision, earlier rendered by the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, upholding his removal from office.
The court removed Mr. Yusuf and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revoke his certificate of return and replace him as a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election. One Mr. Nasir Yusuf Gawna was ordered to issue a certificate of return.
However, Yusuf, who was not satisfied with the court's decision, appealed to the Court of Appeal. However, the Court of Appeals, while upholding the governor's removal, further held that the governor was not a member of the party at the time of the election and could not be said to have received proper sponsorship for the election.
During the Plateau, Governor Caleb Muthofan's election was upheld by the Plateau State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos, but the Court of Appeal overturned his victory and declared Nentawe Goshwe of the APC the winner of the election.
The court ruled that the PDP had failed to comply with the order of the Jos Plateau State High Court directing it to operate an effective ward, local government and state assembly.
Four governors were present in court Friday. The governors are Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Abba Yusuf of Zamfara State, Caleb Muthofang of Plateau State and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.
Also appearing in court is the immediate past Governor of Plateau State, Senator Simon Lalong.
The Supreme Court justices arrived at exactly 9:27 a.m. and began handing down the verdict.
Source: guardian.ng