Why Kano Tribunal sacked Governor Yusuf of NNPP, declared APC winner

The Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) and declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the March 18 election.

Recall Yusuf, who contested on the platform of NNPP was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While Nasir Gawuna, his APC rival, congratulated him, the party proceeded to court.

On Wednesday, the three-man panel ordered the withdrawal of the certificate of return, which INEC presented to Governor Yusuf and directed a certificate of return to be issued to Gawuna.

The court deducted 165,663 votes from Governor Yusuf’s total as invalid votes, stating that the ballot papers (165,663) were not stamped or signed and, therefore, declared invalid.