From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Kano State Government has lauded Friday’s judgment of Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, which overturned an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court in Kano that sought to stop the conduct of local government council elections in the state.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Oyewumi, had declared that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain a matter concerning the conduct of local government councils elections.
The case was initially instituted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and an acclaimed faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), challenging the credibility of the elections, alleging bias on the part of the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Sani Lawan Malumfashi
Delivering judgment on the matter, the appellate court upheld the appeal filed by the Kano State Government and nullified the decision of the lower court.
“This judgment affirms that the local government councils elections conducted in the state were valid and remain legally binding” the statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya said .
“Kano State Government views this ruling as a victory for democracy, the rule of law, and the collective will of the good people of Kano State. It also further reaffirms our belief in the judiciary as the catalyst for the rule of law, last hope for all and sundry, and a pillar for the sustenance of democratic governance” said thr the government.
“The judgment has further vindicated the commitment of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the State Independent Electoral Commission, towards conducting a credible, free and fair election that has ushered in the elected officials across the 44 local governments councils areas and 484 Wards of the state” the statement held.