Headlines
Supreme Court reserves judgement in Kano governorship appeal
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The Supreme Court has on Thursday reserved its judgement in the Kano governorship appeal.
KANO FOCUS reports that the apex court reserved its judgement after hearing parties in the appeal.
On November 17th, the Court of Appeal affirmed the election petition tribunal’s judgement, removing Governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and declaring Dr. Nasiru Gawuna of the APC as the winner.
The three-member appeal court panel rejected Governor Yusuf’s appeal, citing concerns related to his party membership. However, confusion ensued on Tuesday, November 21, as the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the court judgement, surfacing four days post-delivery, revealed inconsistencies in the conclusions.
Hearing on the appeal of Yusuf commenced with the five-member panel of justices, headed by Justice John Okoro, stating that there are nine pending appeals before it.
The court asked counsels in the matter to meet and agree on which of the nine appeals and cross appeals that should be heard, with the outcome binding on the remaining eight.
The court, therefore, went on a short break.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through its counsel, Abubakar Mahmoud, began by stating that the key witness, whose testimony was the ground for deducting the 165,616 votes of Yusuf deemed unlawful, was subpoenaed to give evidence.
He, therefore, said that his testimony was inadmissible having not been front loaded along with the main petition at the tribunal and as such his testimony and exhibits tendered are therefore incompetent.
According to him the contested 165,616 ballot papers were authentic and originated from INEC and not elsewhere. He says it’s not the duty of a voter, on the day of election, to check if a ballot paper is signed or stamped and without a date of election, adding that’s the task of a party agent.
Mahmoud further informed the Apex Court panel that the recounting of votes was done privately at the Tribunal chambers after the deduction of the contested 165,616 votes. He adds that even when they were brought to the Court of Appeal they weren’t demonstrated.
INEC’s Counsel further told the Apex Court panel that only a portion of the unlawful ballots were examined at the Tribunal.
Mahmoud thereby clarified that he is not taking sides except with respect to the correct interpretation of the law.
On Yusuf’s membership of the NNPP, he stated that is an internal affair of the political party concerned and not for an external body, citing previous decisions of the apex court. He therefore added that it is not a constitutional matter as claimed by the APC which relies on Section 177(c) of the Constitution, as amended, and Section 77 of the Electoral Act.
Mahmoud faulted the practice of political parties, which seek to use the Court as an “arena” to get victory after the voters had decided. He informed the Apex Court that the NNPP submitted the name of Abba Yusuf as its candidate for the governorship election, and that if the APC had anything against Yusuf’s candidacy it should have done so after INEC published the names of candidates.
Yusuf through his counsel, Wole Olanipekun, faulted the nullification of his electoral victory on grounds of the INEC presiding officer failing to sign or stamp the ballot papers. Olanipekun argued that that has nothing to do with the Electoral Act, insisting it is on INEC’s guidelines and as such not sufficient grounds to deem the votes unlawful warranting nullification.
Olanipekun told the Apex Court panel that based on the evidence given by an expert witness during the Tribunal stage of the matter, only about 1,800 ballots were not signed or stamped. And that those are insignificant figures and as such insufficient to void the election.
On the membership of Yusuf, Olanipekun stressed that it is the internal affair of the party concerned, with the courts therefore lacking jurisdiction to decide on the choice of a political party’s candidate. He therefore prayed the court to overturn the decision of the Appeal Court which affirmed the decision of the Tribunal sacking the governor.
Akin Olujimi, counsel for the APC insists that Section 177(c) of the Constitution is a key determiner of the Kano matter, and that the matter being a constitutional issue gives it jurisdiction to decide on it.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Political allies and loyalists of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Arc Aminu Dabo, have begun resigning from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State following his withdrawal from the ruling party.
KANO FOCUS reports that the supporters, operating under the political group Dabo Alheri Ne, reportedly include members across Kano State’s 44 local government areas.
Barely two days after Dabo announced his resignation from the APC, a prominent stakeholder of the group, Garba Zakiru Dambatta, said members had welcomed the decision and were showing solidarity by submitting their resignation letters to their respective ward party chairmen.
Dambatta, a former APC chairman in Dambatta Local Government Area, said the group’s members were disappointed with what they described as the prolonged marginalisation of Mr Dabo and his supporters within the party.
According to him, despite Mr Dabo’s contributions to the APC and efforts to strengthen the party and manage disagreements among its members, some key stakeholders had continued to sideline him and his loyalists in party activities.
Dambatta reaffirmed the group’s commitment to standing by Mr Dabo’s political decisions and supporting his future political journey.
He also urged the former NPA managing director not to succumb to political pressure or reverse his decision to leave the party.
“This step you have taken, we have the conviction that it is the beginning of a new chapter of goodness in your life,” Dambatta said.
Among the prominent members of the group identified as supporting Mr Dabo’s decision are Abba Rabee’u, a former Senior Special Assistant on Political Awareness; Almustapha Jilani Danmalam, a former Senior Special Assistant on Education; Jamilu Abdullahi Zangon-Mata, a former Senior Special Assistant on Entrepreneurship; and Fahd A. Dabo, a former Special Assistant on Youth Mobilisation.
The individuals reportedly served during the second term of former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
The group also said several other party loyalists and supporters were backing Dabo following his resignation.
However, the statement did not provide the number of members who had formally resigned from the APC or indicate whether the party leadership had responded to the development.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Five players of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Club have been invited to the national camp of Nigeria’s Special Super Eagles ahead of the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico.
KANO FOCUS reports that invited players are Isah Yusuf, Abba Musa, Habu Friday, Emanuel Betel and Usman Ahmed. They are currently in Abuja with the national team as preparations intensify for the global tournament.
The Team Manager of Kano Pillars Amputee Football Team, Jamilu Uba Adamu, disclosed this in an interview with Ashiru Rabiu Gidan Tudu, Information Officer of the Kano State Sports Commission.
Adamu described the invitation as recognition of the players’ dedication, discipline and outstanding performances.
He expressed confidence that the players would represent Kano State and Nigeria with honour at the championship.
According to him, the call-up also demonstrates Kano Pillars’ commitment to nurturing talented amputee footballers and contributing to the development of the sport in Nigeria.
The 2026 Amputee Football World Cup is scheduled to take place from November 13 to 22 in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico. A total of 24 countries, including seven African nations, are expected to participate.
The Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Muhammad Tukur Babangida, congratulated the five players on their invitation, describing it as well deserved.
Babangida expressed confidence that they would justify the confidence reposed in them by the national team selectors.
He assured the players of the commission’s continued support and urged them to remain focused, disciplined and committed to making Kano State and Nigeria proud on the international stage.
Ibrahim Khalil
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Aminu Dabo, has resigned as the party’s caucus chairman in Dambatta Local Government Area and withdrawn his membership of the ruling party.
KANO FOCUS reports that Dabo, a former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), announced his resignation in a letter dated October 7, 2026, addressed to the APC chairman of Dambatta Gabas Ward.
In the letter, personally signed by him, Dabo said he took the decision after careful consideration of personal reasons and his future endeavours.
He confirmed his resignation during a telephone conversation from Abuja on Wednesday, saying he had formally submitted the letter to the appropriate party officials in Dambatta for necessary action.
“I remain grateful for the cordial relationship I enjoyed and appreciative of the experience gained during my time of service,” he said.
The former NPA managing director also thanked the party’s leadership for the opportunity and confidence reposed in him to contribute to its development and progress during his membership.
“I sincerely appreciate the support and opportunity I have received from the party leadership,” he added.
A statement issued by Abdullahi Othman, Media and Publicity Aide to Dabo Dabo, said the former NPA MD did not disclose further details about his reasons for leaving the APC in the resignation letter.
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