HEADLINES HEADLINES : Kano boils as fresh protest breaks out over Appeal Court judgment

The Appeal Court’s decision to remove Governor Abba Yusuf has sparked widespread protests in Kano.

The decision of the tribunal that dismissed Yusuf on September 20, 2023, was affirmed two weeks ago by the appellate court panel, according to Daily Trust. Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay presided over the tribunal.

Due to the lack of an official INEC signature or stamp, the lower court had ruled that 165,663 of Yusuf’s votes were null and void. Yusuf ran as a candidate for the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

After then, the governor’s support dropped to 853,939, while his All Progressives Congress (APC) opponent Nasir Ganuwa’s support stayed at 890,705 votes.

The tribunal’s decision was deemed “unfair” and “a miscarriage of justice” by Yusuf. He then proceeded to the appellate court, which similarly found in favour of his adversary.

In the aftermath of the appeal court’s decision, tensions rose in Kano as several groups planned protests, but security forces dissuaded some from carrying them out in an effort to maintain law and order.

On Monday, though, demonstrations broke out across the state before being put down by the police.

“Kano belongs to Abba,” “Our mandate must be restored,” “Injustice exposed in CTC,” and other Hausa slogans were chanted by the demonstrators as they retook the streets two days later.

The demonstrators regrouped and stayed firm as security forces attempted to disperse them.

The police have issued a stern warning to the people of Kano, asking that they not participate in any sort of public procession or demonstration in response to the decision of the Appeal Court.