Politics
Kano Tribunal Reserves Judgment In Petition Against Gov Yusuf’s Election
The Kano State Election Petition Tribunal, last Monday, reserved judgment in the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) challenging the victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The APC is challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for declaring Mr Kabir-Yusuf the winner of the March 18 governorship election. Respondents in the petition are INEC, Mr Kabir-Yusuf and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The three-member panel led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, said the tribunal would communicate the date for the judgment after all parties had adopted their final written addresses.
“I am honoured and privileged that this is my first assignment as the Chairman of a Tribunal, and I prayed to God to guide me to uphold the integrity of my job.
“We will be fair. Be rest assured that we will read what the law says, and we will read it to the best of our knowledge,” Mr Akintan-Osadebay said.
Earlier, counsel to the APC, Offiong Offiong, SAN, in adopting his final written addresses dated July 31, August 6, 7, and 8, replied on points of law.
“We urge the court to adopt our written addresses as our argument and urge the tribunal to uphold our petition and grant our reliefs.
“The second respondent brought two membership registers before and after the election. The membership number is inconsistent.
“It shows that the second respondent was not a member of NNPP before the election; he became a member after the election, and all the ballot papers used in some local governments were not signed, stamped and dated,” Mr Offiong said.
In the same vein, the counsel to INEC, Mr Emmanuel Osayomi, adopted a written address dated August 1 and filed August 2.
Mr Osayomi urged the court to dismiss the petition on grounds that the petitioner did not prove his case.
The counsel to Mr Kabir-Yusuf, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, adopted his final written dated July 31 and filed on August 1.
“I urge My Lord to disregard the position of Pw31 statement on oath dated May 26; there is no evidence,” Mr Awomolo said.
Responding counsel to NNPP, John Olusola-Baiyeshea, SAN, adopted his written addresses dated July 30 and filed July 31.
He prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition absolutely, describing it as “the most unapproved petition”.
The petitioner closed his case with 32 witnesses before the tribunal, while INEC closed their case without presenting any witnesses on July 20.
Mr Kabir-Yusuf closed his case on July 22, with the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Baffa-Bichi as a lone witness while the NNPP closed its case without calling any witnesses on July 24.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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