Kano Tribunal: INEC Retracts Withdrawal Of Appeal On Abba Yusuf’s Sack

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly retracted its initial withdrawal of an appeal concerning the sack of the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf.

Earlier, Naija News reported that it made a U-turn and had withdrawn from the move to appeal the sack of   Yusuf.

Recall that the Kano State Governorship Election Tribunal had nullified the declaration of Abba Yusuf by the electoral umpire at the March 18 polls in the state.

The tribunal had also declared the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, election winner and had directed the Commission to issue him a Certificate of Return.

Reacting to Abba Yusuf’s sack by the tribunal, the INEC, in a letter addressed to the Secretary of Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, said it has no reason to appeal its judgement.

The letter was signed by the Head of Department (HOD), Legal, INEC, Suleiman Alkali, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC).

The letter said, “I have been instructed by the Commission headquarters that INEC as an umpire have no reason to appeal any Judgement.

“Consequently, the National Commissioner in charge of Legal Services and National Commissioner in charge of Kano zone are directed that the Appeal be withdrawn, and all processes for all Appeals should be forwarded to the Kano Office.”

However, Alkali cried out that he was tricked into writing the letter on Friday and retracted it from the tribunal about 40 minutes after it was delivered.

So he was surprised over how the letter got into the media space.

According to Daily Post, a government official told pressmen on Saturday that Alkali, who claimed he was misled into writing the letter, was confronted by some of the counsel representing INEC in the matter.

He admitted to his mistake and rendered an apology, saying the appeal is still active.

Alkali, however, didn’t disclose those who he claimed misled him or the reason they did so.

He only said some authorities wanted to use him as a scapegoat, and he knew it was a very sensitive issue.

This platform gathered that pressmen were reportedly shown a copy of the Notice of Appeal filed on behalf of INEC by the law office of Dikko & Mahmood on 3 October and is said to be still subsisting, indicating that the appeal is still alive.