Kano:  My ‘Stolen’ Mandate Will Be Restored By Supreme Court- Gov

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano has expressed optimism that he will win at the Supreme Court following his sack on Friday by the Court of Appeal.

The Kano helmsman’s election was annulled yesterday by the appellate court, which gave victory to Gawuna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the March 18 governorship election.

The judgment of the Court of Appeal was an affirmation of an earlier ruling by the state Election Petition Tribunal which in September invalidated the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Yusuf the candidate of the New Nigerian People Party, NNPL won the election.

The Supreme Court for which Governor Yusuf has now headed has the final say over the matter as the country’s highest court.

Reacting to the judgment, Yusuf said on Friday that his mandate ‘stolen’ by the lower court would be restored by the nation’s apex court, stressing that the people of the state came out massively during the election to cast their vote for his party.

According to him the apex court “will right the wrong done to Kano people,” adding that he has instructed his lawyers to file an appeal.

Governor Yusuf: “We have instructed our lawyers to appeal this ruling to the Supreme Court, where we hope it will right the wrong done to Kano people.

“We believe the judgment was unjust to us. We know that the people of Kano came out en masse to vote for us.

“We are optimistic that the Supreme Court would return our stolen mandate and address the unjust melted on us.

“I want to assure the people of Kano that all this that is happening is a temporary matter, and in no time, the Supreme Court will reclaim our mandate.

“We will not be deterred from the good work we have started in the state.

“We call on the people of the state to go about their normal activities as security personnel are on the ground to protect them.”

Meanwhile, residents of the state who spoke to the magazine said the ancient city has been experiencing the peace of the graveyard after the judgment which invalidated the governor’s election on Friday.