The New Nigerian Peoples Party has retained its hold as the ruling party in Kano State as the Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the election of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Yusuf, who contested under the NNPP was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission but the All Progressives Congress challenged his victory in court.
The tribunal had set aside governor Yusuf’s victory after declaring 165,663 of his votes invalid. The tribunal held that the deducted votes were from ballot papers that were neither stamped nor signed.
Premium Politics reported that the court proceeded to declare Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress election winner.
He then approached the appeal court for redress. The appeal court upheld the tribunal’s decision and faulted the lower court for not disqualifying the governor.
The appellate court said the governor was not properly sponsored by the NNPP, thus violating the provisions of Section 177 (c) of the constitution.
The court, however, declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress winner of the election.
At the Supreme Court on Friday, Justice John Okoro ordered that all the ballot papers from which the appellant votes were deducted should be restored to the governor.
He said the said paper contains the logo of INEC and the coat of arms as prescribed by the provisions of the Electoral Act.
He also held that the issue of party membership is an internal affair of the party.
