The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has petitioned the European Union, the British High Commission, the Canadian Embassy and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) over the Court of Appeal’s judgment that upheld the sacking of Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State.
The NNPP, which is a coalition partner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano, said that the judgment was a travesty of justice and a threat to democracy in Nigeria.
The party made this known on Wednesday during a peaceful protest walk to the diplomatic missions in Abuja, where it submitted copies of its petition.
The petition, signed by the party’s acting National Chairman, Abba Ali, and its National Auditor, Ladipo Johnson, stated that the NNPP and the PDP had won the governorship election in Kano on March 18, 2023, with Yusuf as the candidate, but the mandate was allegedly snatched away by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under controversial circumstances.
The petition read in part: “A deliberate hijack of people’s mandate in Kano will no doubt have consequences politically, economically, and socially, especially in light of its humanitarian repercussions.
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“From the look of things, there are clandestine moves to truncate the will of the vast majority of the people of Kano State concerning the governor they freely and willingly elected on March 18, 2023, Abba Yusuf.”
The petition also recalled that the 2019 mandate to Governor Yusuf was given a seal of authority by the judiciary, but the APC challenged the verdict at the Court of Appeal, which reversed the decision and ordered a fresh election.
The NNPP said that it had appealed the judgment at the Supreme Court and expressed hope that the apex court would restore Yusuf’s mandate.
The party also appealed to the international community and other stakeholders to intervene and ensure that the will of the people of Kano is respected.
“We call on Bola Tinubu, world leaders, former Nigerian Presidents/ Heads of States, heads of international organisations, and heads of local and international security agencies, and all promoters of democracy to counsel the Nigerian judiciary, specifically the Supreme Court, in respect of the Kano State Governorship seat.
“As we head towards this next level of adjudication, which of course is the final, there is palpable tension in Kano. The city’s atmosphere is enveloped in anger, with a sense of shock and agony pervading every discussion on the streets, offices, and homes,” the petition said.
The NNPP also thanked the diplomatic missions for receiving its petition and urged them to follow up with the case.
At the EU Embassy, the Head of Delegation Mission, Agnieszka Oliveira, appreciated the party for peacefully channeling its grievances and said that the EU would follow the case and convey it to the Ambassador.