The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has lodged a complaint with various international organizations regarding the Court of Appeal’s decision to remove Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State.
On Wednesday, the NNPP submitted a petition to the European Union, the British High Commission, the Canadian Embassy, and the Economic Community of West African States, among others, expressing their concerns about the court’s ruling.
The NNPP believes that there are indications of attempts to undermine the will of the majority of the people who elected Yusuf on March 18, 2023.
The party revealed this information during a peaceful protest march to important diplomatic offices in Abuja, including the British High Commission, the European Union, the Canadian Embassy, and the ECOWAS Secretariat.
During the submission of the petition at the EU Secretariat in Abuja, Ladipo Johnson, the National Auditor of the party, spoke on behalf of the acting National Chairman, Abba Ali, stated that “A deliberate hijack of people’s mandate in Kano will no doubt have consequences politically, economically, and socially, especially in light of its humanitarian repercussions.
“From the look of things, there are clandestine moves to truncate the will of the vast majority of the people of Kano State concerning the governor they freely and willingly elected on March 18, 2023, Abba Yusuf.”
During the 2019 general elections, Johnson remembered that Yusuf participated and emerged victorious in the governorship election. This achievement was made possible by their group’s decision to join the Peoples Democratic Party a few months prior to the elections.
He, however, said that “the 2019 mandate to Governor Yusuf was allegedly snatched away by the powers that be under very controversial circumstances, and the judiciary gave this day-light robbery a seal of authority.”
The NNPP has brought the matter to the Supreme Court in order to resolve it. The party is concerned about the peace and stability of Kano State and Northern Nigeria as a whole.
The party is urging the Supreme Court to restore the mandate given to Yusuf in the interest of substantial justice.
“We call on President Bola Tinubu, world leaders, former Nigerian Presidents/ Heads of States, heads of international organisations, and heads of local and international security agencies, and all promoters of democracy to counsel the Nigerian judiciary, specifically the Supreme Court, in respect of the Kano State Governorship seat.
“As we head towards this next level of adjudication, which of course is the final, there is palpable tension in Kano. The city’s atmosphere is enveloped in anger, with a sense of shock and agony pervading every discussion on the streets, offices, and homes,” he said.
The petition was received at the EU Embassy, and the Head of Delegation Mission, Agnieszka Oliveira, expressed appreciation for the party’s peaceful approach to addressing their grievances. The EU will continue to monitor the case.
Oliveira said, “We have deployed election observation mission during elections in Nigeria, last time as well, I was personally observing elections in Kano, and I saw the enthusiasm in Kano. We will follow the case and the development and will convey that to the Ambassador.“
