The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, has urged Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to comply with a recent court ruling that halted the scheduled local government elections in Kano.
This appeal follows a Federal High Court ruling on October 22, 2024, which restrained the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) from conducting the October 26 election.
Justice Simon Amobede ruled that Sani Malumfashi, KANSIEC’s chairman, is “unqualified” to oversee the election due to his active membership in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The judge stated that the neutrality of the electoral body must be maintained, saying, “An official involved in electoral matters should not be affiliated with any political party.”
In response, Governor Yusuf, while presenting NNPP flags to his party’s candidates at Sani Abacha Stadium on Thursday, asserted, “Nobody can stop KANSIEC from conducting the election.” This statement was made to encourage his supporters to resist the court’s directive.
In response to the governor’s remarks, Alhaji Abbas issued a statement from Abuja, warning against actions that might lead to unrest.
“The governor should simply respect the laws,” Abbas said. He urged the Kano government to prioritize peace, stating, “The governor should avoid any act that could throw the state into chaos. Inciting people to take the law into their own hands is not a sign of good leadership.”
The APC criticized Governor Yusuf’s position as a “clear case of invitation to anarchy and lawlessness,” stressing that respecting judicial decisions is essential for democratic governance.
The party called on the state administration to adhere to the court’s decision for the sake of stability and peace in Kano.
