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Ganduje vs Abba: The journey to the Supreme Court
Nasiru Yusuf
Kano state governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of the All Peoples Congress (APC) and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenger Abba Kabir Yusuf will know their fate this Monday as the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on the rightful winner of the 2019 governorship election.
In this report, KANO FOCUS recalls the political and legal battles that landed the duo at the Supreme Court.
It could be recalled that 52 candidates including eight women contested for the governorship seat on March O9, 2019.
Trouble began with the reported disruption of collation process at Nassarawa local government by high ranking government officials.
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On March 11, the Kano state police command announced the arrest of commissioner for local government, Murtala Sule Garo, and the Chairman, Nassarawa local government, Lamin Sani for allegedly destroying Gama ward election result.
The police also announced that it had taken the Kano state deputy governor, Nasiru Gawuna who accompanied the arrested officials into “protective custody”.
Following this incident, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Riskuwa Arabu Shehu told journalists that the commission would regenerate the election result.
However, the state’s Returning Officer Bello Shehu announced that the election is inconclusive because the number of cancelled votes is higher than the difference between the two leading candidates.
The result announced by INEC, indicated that the PDP candidate polled 1,014,474 votes, while Mr Ganduje of the APC scored 987,819 votes leaving a difference of 26,655 votes.
While the total votes cancelled across 22 local governments including Gama ward of Nasarawa local government were 141,694 votes.
Supplementary Election
On March 24, INEC conducted supplementary elections at 28 out of 44 local governments of Kano state.
The supplementary election was characterized by violence and voter intimidation by armed thugs.
After the supplementary election, INEC declared Mr Ganduje winner having scored 45,876 votes to Mr Yusuf’s 10,239 thereby upturning the result in his favor.
The Returning Officer, Mr. Shehu, announced that Mr Ganduje scored a total vote of 1,033,695 while Mr Yusuf polled 1,024,713.
The winning margin was 8,982 between the two major candidates.
The PDP and its governorship candidate rejected the result and asked INEC to cancel it.
Election Petition Tribunal
On Thursday April 11th, PDP and its governorship candidate filed a petition against the victory of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje as winner of the March 23 governorship election in Kano State as announced by the INEC.
The petition filed by the party before the governorship election tribunal contended that its governorship candidate, Abba Yusuf, won the March 9 election, as such any result other than that was a nullity.
The party also contended that the supplementary election conducted by INEC was unconstitutional and unlawful.
Mr Kabir-Yusuf told journalists shortly after filing the petition “during the March 9 governorship election, the PDP got the highest votes across the 44 local governments in the state.
“To me as the PDP candidate the only election that took place was on March 9.
“The issue of supplementary election as far as PDP is concerned was an illegality which we reject and have nothing to do with.”
On July 16, counsel to PDP, Adeboyega Awomolo, filed a motion on notice seeking the tribunal to grant his clients leave to amend the names of witnesses and their initials earlier presented alongside the petition.
Counsels to Ganduje and the INEC, Offiong Offiong and Adedayo Adedeji objected to the application and urged the tribunal to dismiss it.
In her ruling, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Halima Shamaki, dismissed the application saying that, “If the application is granted it will overreach the respondents and it will be an abuse of court process.”
However, court of appeal sitting in Kaduna granted the application of governorship candidate of PDP, Mr Kabir-Yusuf, to amend its witness list with additional eight “star” witnesses in his case against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.
Justice Adedotun Adefoke-Okoji, while delivering judgment on the appeal filed by the appellant, granted all the prayers of the petitioner.
Mr Ganduje filed a notice of appeal against the judgment to the Supreme Court, and the apex court upheld the ruling of court of appeal.
On October 2, Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Halima Shamaki had in its unanimous judgment dismissed the petition filed by the PDP and Mr Kabir-Yusuf on grounds that the petitioners failed to prove their claims that the election was marred by irregularities and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
The tribunal also held that INEC was right in declaring the March 9 election in Kano State inconclusive and also in declaring Mr. Ganduje the winner of the supplementary election held on March 23.
It also said that declaring an election as inconclusive where there are lawful reasons is constitutional.
Court of Appeal
On April 11 the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate filed a petition at the Appeal Court against the October 2 judgment of the election petition tribunal.
However, in a unanimous decision delivered on November 22, a five-man panel of the court led by Justice Tijjani Abubakar dismissed the appeal by the PDP and its governorship candidate.
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The court affirmed the October 2 judgment of the Kano State Governorship Election Tribunal, which had dismissed the petition by PDP and its candidate, challenging Ganduje’s victory at the supplementary election.
Supreme Court
In protest to the court of Appeal verdict, the PDP filed an appeal at Supreme Court.
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On January 14, the court fixed January 20 to deliver its judgment.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has officially launched its 2025 Hajj operations with the deployment of its Advance Team to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The team, made up of key operational personnel and senior members of the National Medical Team, departed from Abuja on Monday after a symbolic farewell ceremony at the Hajj House.
During the send-off, the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Alhaji Babagana Bukar, formally presented the team to the NAHCON Chairman, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman. He praised their exceptional contribution to last year’s Hajj success and expressed confidence in their ability to deliver yet again. Bukar also appealed to the commission’s leadership to maintain strong institutional support to ensure another seamless exercise.
In his charge to the team, Professor Usman urged them to treat the mission with utmost seriousness and spiritual reverence.
“You are not going there to sleep; you are going there to serve the Guests of Allah,” he emphasized. “Support each other, work in unity, and serve with sincerity. Your success is our collective success.”
He assured them of the Commission’s full backing and reminded them to carry out their duties with the fear of Allah.
Echoing the Chairman’s sentiments, Commissioner for Planning, Research, Statistics, Information and Library Services (PRSILS), Professor Abubakar Yagawal, described the Advance Team as the heartbeat of the Hajj operation. He stressed the need for dedication, integrity, and impartiality in their work, calling on them to approach the task with clear purpose and patience.
On behalf of NAHCON’s executive management, Dr. Mustapha Sani, Secretary to the Commission, confirmed that the team’s welfare packages had been fully approved, assuring them of continued support throughout the Hajj season.
“You are laying the foundation for this year’s operation,” Dr. Sani noted. “Your success is the Commission’s success.”
Speaking on behalf of the Advance Team, Director of Inspectorate and Compliance and Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Alidu Shutti, thanked the leadership for their confidence and pledged unwavering professionalism.
“We are trained, experienced, and fully ready. We will not disappoint you,” he said, appealing for sustained support from the top.
The Advance Team is tasked with crucial responsibilities including securing accommodation for pilgrims, setting up airport reception logistics, and coordinating with Saudi Hajj officials—efforts that form the backbone of Nigeria’s Hajj operations.
Their departure signals a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey to the 2025 Hajj and the beginning of a meticulously coordinated national pilgrimage to one of the world’s largest spiritual gatherings.
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By Mukhtar Yahya Usman
The Director General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Lamin Rabiu Danbappa, has informed intending pilgrims from the state that they should prepare to spend between 35 to 40 days in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj exercise.
He made the statement during the closing session of the Hajj orientation exercise (bita) held for Kano State intending pilgrims.
Alhaji Danbappa emphasized that the extended duration is part of the organized Hajj itinerary and logistical arrangement by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), stressing that pilgrims must exhibit patience and discipline throughout the holy journey.
“We are urging our pilgrims to mentally and spiritually prepare for a stay of up to 40 days in Makkah. It is not unusual, and it is part of the spiritual obligation,” he said.
The Director General also decried the conduct of some pilgrims who, after completing the core rites of Hajj, begin to pressure the board to arrange their return to Nigeria earlier than scheduled.
“There are individuals who begin to disturb the peace of the board, coming up with excuses just to shorten their stay,” he noted.
“But they must understand that return flights operate on a ‘first to go, first to return’ basis. No one will be allowed to jump the queue.”
Alhaji Danbappa urged the pilgrims to avoid unnecessary complaints and instead focus on their spiritual obligations, warning that any attempt to create unrest or disrupt the return process would not be tolerated.
The Pilgrims Welfare Board has so far concluded arrangements for the first batch of Kano pilgrims to depart for Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks, with airlifts expected to follow a strict schedule based on departure order.
The DG also commended the Kano State Government for its continued support in ensuring a smooth Hajj operation, and called on pilgrims to serve as good ambassadors of the state and the country while in the holy land.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state has issued a blistering response to recent accusations made by Baffa Bichi, the former Secretary to the State Government, describing the claims as baseless fabrications intended to mislead the public and tarnish reputations.
This was contained in a stark issued by governor’s spokesperson Sunusi Bature Dawakin on Sunday.
Governor Yusuf dismissed all the allegations made by Bichi via social media, branding him “a shameless liar” whose utterances are unworthy of serious attention.
“The claims are not only false but also laughable. Baffa Bichi is a big liar, and everything he said is a total fallacy,” Yusuf declared.
Particularly, the Governor vehemently refuted the assertion that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, is receiving N2 billion monthly from the Kano State Government.
Governor Yusuf described the allegation as “the height of political desperation and dishonesty.”
“Senator Kwankwaso is one of the purest and most selfless individuals in Kano. He has never demanded a penny from this administration, nor has he interfered with the government’s finances,” the Governor asserted.
He also criticized Baffa Bichi’s timing and motive, noting that he served in the government for several months without making such claims—until after his dismissal due to incapacitation, poor performance and administrative negligence.
“You were in this government for more than a year l, If you had any integrity, you would have spoken out while still in office. But you chose silence until you were sent parking. That exposes your real motive,” Yusuf added.
The Governor concluded by reaffirming his commitment to transparency and good governance, urging the people of Kano to disregard what he called “the noise of bitter politicians who have lost relevance.”
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