Security beefed up in, around Supreme Court ahead of Kano, 6 other Governorship disputes

Heavy security has been beefed up around the Supreme Court of Nigeria Complex in the three arms zones of Abuja ahead of the judgement in the Kano State governorship election appeal.

Supreme News reports that the apex court will also deliver judgement in the Lagos, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Bauchi, and Cross River governorship elections.

The court begins sitting by 9a.m.

Supreme News reports that judgements in the Kano and Plateau appeals are the most anticipated because the lower courts have sacked the incumbent governors.

The correspondent who arrived at the court complex around 7.15 a.m. on Friday reports that heavy security has been built around the area, possibly to ensure hitch-free proceedings.

It was also observed that security operatives from regular and plain-clothed police units have been deployed to the court’s main entrance to block unauthorised movements of humans and vehicles into the complex premises.

Supreme News reports that, though only lawyers and parties involved in the matter were permitted, hundreds of supporters of the parties could be seen trying to gain access to the premises.

Supreme News reports that journalists were also having difficulty finding their way into the court premises.

Supreme News reports that Kano state governor Abba Yusuf and his party, NNPP, had filed an appeal against the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which had affirmed his sacking as earlier pronounced by the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

The tribunal had sacked Yusuf and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw his certificate of return and instead issue same to to Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

However, not satisfied with the Tribunal judgment, Yusuf had approached the Appeal Court. But the appellate court had while affirming his sack, further held that the governor was not a member of the party as of the time of the election and could not have been said to have been properly sponsored for the election.

Supreme News also reports that for Plateau, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang’s election was upheld by the Plateau State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Jos, but the appeal court overturned his victory and declared Nentawe Goshwe of the APC the winner of the election.

The court ruled that the failure of the PDP to comply with the order of the Plateau State High Court in Jos directing it to conduct valid ward, local governments, and state congresses before nominating its candidates for the various elective posts was a breach of the law.