Kano APC asks tribunal to declare guber poll inconclusive

The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal to declare the March 18 gubernatorial election in the state inconclusive.

The party is challenging the declaration of Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP)as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It would be recalled that Kabir-Yusuf polled 1,019,602 votes to defeat his rival and the incumbent deputy governor of Kano State, Dr Nasiru Gawuna, of the APC who garnered 892,705 votes.

In a five volume petition dated April 9, the Kano APC alleged that Kabir-Yusuf was not qualified to contest the election on the ground that his name was not on the list of members of NNPP sent to INEC.

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The respondents in the petition are NNPP, Kabir-Yusuf, and INEC.

The Kano APC alleged that NNPP did not win the election with the majority of lawful votes, arguing that some of the votes cast were invalid and if removed from the scores, APC will have the highest number of votes cast.

The ruling party also alleged that the Kano Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) was wrong for declaring Kabir-Yusuf the winner, adding that the margin of lead was not higher than the votes cancelled.

The party prayed the tribunal to declare that NNPP had no candidate and Kabir-Yusuf’s name was not in the register of voters submitted to INEC at the time of the election.

The Kano APC, therefore, prayed the tribunal to declare its candidate, Dr Nasiru Gawuna, the winner of the election.

The party also prayed the tribunal in the alternative to declare the election as inconclusive, alleging that the margin of lead was not more than the votes cancelled.

The Star