Confusion as INEC withdraws appeal of Kano Governorship Tribunal judgement

 

 

Confusion reigned at the weekend after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew its appeal of the Kano State governorship election judgement.

 

The Kano governorship tribunal sacked the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party, penultimate week in a unanimous decision of a panel of three. 

 

The tribunal asked INEC to withdraw the certificate of return it earlier issued to Yusuf, and present fresh one to Nasir Gawuna of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

 

INEC, which is a party in the suit, then filed an appeal against the ruling. But in a twist at the weekend, the commission, through a letter signed by its head of legal department in Kano, Suleiman Alkali, withdrew its appeal against the judgement. 

 

The letter, which was addressed to the secretary of the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, partly read: “I have been instructed by the commission headquarters that INEC as an umpire have no reason to appeal any judgment.

 

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Commissioner in charge of Legal Services and National Commissioner in charge of Kano zone directed that the appeal be withdrawn and all processes for all Appeals should be forwarded to the Kano Office.”

 

There are indications however that Alkali has withdrawn his letter written to the Tribunal.

 

A report by the Daily Post said when Alkali was confronted by some of the counsel representing INEC in the matter, he claimed to have been misled into writing the letter. He also tendered his apology for his “mistakes”.

 

He, however, did not reveal who misled him. He said he withdrew the letter within 40 minutes of submitting it to the Tribunal but was surprised that it found its way into the media.

 

According to him, some authorities wanted to use him as scapegoat and he had already been awoken to the reality that it was a very sensitive issue.