‘I’m justified,’ Gov Yusuf speaks on Supreme Court verdict

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State says he is justified by the Supreme Court judgment, which affirmed his election.

Governor Yusuf stated this while speaking to journalists immediately after the judgment on Friday.

The court had set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja and election petition tribunal which nullified Yusuf’s election.

A five-member panel of justices on Friday unanimously held that the lower court misunderstood the import of the purported deduction of 165,616 ballot papers in favour of Governor Yusuf.

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The apex court also maintained that the issue of nomination or sponsorship of a candidate for an election is completely an exclusive prerogative of the political party.

Reacting to the judgment, Governor Yusuf said that INEC had confirmed that the ballot papers belonged to them and were issued by them while the Supreme Court justices had just confirmed same.

He said, “I felt extremely happy with the judgment of the Supreme Court which took place today (Friday). Many people are happy and cheering. The Supreme Court has confirmed that there is no illegality as far as the election is concerned.

“INEC had confirmed that the ballot papers belong to them and were issued by them and the Supreme Court justices have just confirmed that.

“People are aware and I felt justified. That issue has been set aside because there was no justification whatsoever. The first thing to say (is) a big thank you to everybody for the support and prayers they have been rendering for the last seven months of our administration. This is not only to the good people of Kano State, but the entire people of Nigeria, as well as other people across the globe.”