On Wednesday, the judges of the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal declined to show up in person.
According to Naija News, the tribunal will issue a ruling today about a petition the All Progressives Congress (APC) filed to contest Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) winning the election.
The court was closed to reporters, attorneys, party members, and numerous others.
The three-member panel’s chairman, Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, addressed via Zoom as the proceedings got underway before 10 am.
The INEC PO’s appeal of the petition was rejected by the tribunal on the grounds that the language employed did not follow the Electoral Act.
The Tribunal decided in favor of INEC on its second preliminary objection, finding that Gov. Yusuf’s sponsorship and party membership are internal party matters.
Because APC candidate Yusuf Gawuna was not included in the case, the tribunal dismissed INEC’s preliminary objection to the petition.
According to Daily Trust, the Secretariat stated that neither a live broadcast of the verdict nor the use of smartphones or cameras by the few journalists let into the court would be permitted.
High-ranking security officials had previously told the platform that they were unaware of the judges’ whereabouts and that it was feasible that the session would take place virtually.