The Kano state government has expressed satisfaction with the verdict of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the legality of the recently conducted local government elections in the state.
In a statement issued Friday, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, said the government was elated by the decision, describing it as a “significant step” in strengthening democratic governance and upholding constitutional order.
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice Oyewumi, ruled that the Federal High Court in Kano lacked jurisdiction to hear the case filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a faction of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), which had challenged the credibility of the elections.
The opposition parties had accused the Chairman of the Kano state Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Sani Lawan Malumfashi, of bias.
However, the appellate court reversed the earlier judgement and ruled in favour of the Kano state government, effectively validating the conduct of the elections.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf welcomed the verdict, describing it as a “victory for democracy, justice, and the rule of law.”
“This judgement affirms our unwavering belief in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, a critical pillar of democratic governance, and protector of constitutional integrity,” he said.
He said further that the ruling was a clear endorsement of his administration’s commitment to a free, fair, and credible electoral process – one that produced elected officials across all 44 local government areas and 484 wards in the state.
Governor Yusuf also commended the people of Kano for maintaining peace and calm while awaiting the court’s decision, saying their conduct reflected “the democratic awareness and resilience of the citizenry.”