Expressing concern over what they deemed a “contradictory verdict” by the Appeal Court regarding the 2023 gubernatorial polls in Kano State, lawyers from the 19 states of Northern Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) gathered in Kaduna to declare their support for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP),leadership reports.
Convening under the banner of the Abba Kabir Yusuf Volunteer Lawyers Forum From The 19 – Northern States and Abuja, these lawyers criticized the Appeal Court judgment as a blatant miscarriage of justice. During a press conference at Arewa House in Kaduna State, Barrister Yusuf Ado Ibrahim, speaking on behalf of the legal professionals, appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the Supreme Court, urging them not to allow Nigeria to evolve into a one-party state, as it would be detrimental to democracy.
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Ibrahim stressed the importance of upholding the rule of law and cautioned against the temptation to establish a one-party system in Nigeria. Furthermore, he called for a comprehensive review of the Electoral Act, emphasizing the need to address anomalies in the judicial system and democracy.
He argued that pre-election matters should be treated as non-litigable issues once the election winner is declared. Ibrahim proposed that in cases of disputes, the court should consider ordering a re-run in the affected areas rather than conclusively declaring politicians as winners based on their findings.
The lawyers expressed concerns about the potential erosion of the democratic process if unchecked trends persist, advocating for the protection of the common man’s interests in Kano State and the affirmation of Abba Kabir Yusuf as the duly elected governor. They pledged their voluntary support as private legal practitioners across the 19 Northern states to stand in solidarity with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, emphasizing their commitment to truth and justice in the fight to reclaim his mandate and that of the people of Kano State.
