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Fear-striken Kano govt resorts to prayer as tribunal sets to deliver judgement on governorship election
Faced with a possible overturn of the result of the March 2023 governorship election, that brought it into office, fear-stricken Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf and his cabinet members have resorted to prayers to avert such a possible disaster.
This is coming as the countdown to the declaration of the Election Petition Tribunal verdict draws nearer.
On Saturday, the Kano State Government organised a special prayer session for divine intervention towards the continuity of the present administration.
During the prayer session, the Chief Imam of Kofar Nasarawa mosque, Dr. Sani Ashiru, prayed for peace, justice and tranquility to reign supreme in the state and the entire country.
“Today, we gather here and pray to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to express our appreciation and gratitude to Him for His numerous blessings and immeasurable mercy to us, to our state and to our country.
“We pray here today to express our thanks to Allah SWT for granting us victory in the 2023 general elections.
“We gather here today to thank Allah (SWT) for keeping our communities safe, for keeping our state secured and for keeping our country safe.”
The Imam thanked Allah for the progress being experienced in businesses in the state and for the emerging prosperity within the last three months.
The Imam who preached rather like a politician than a spiritual leader said- “Over 57,000 students were registered for NECO at a cost of about N1.3bn by this administration. We therefore gather here to pray for our leaders at the state and federal levels.
“Oh Allah, here are our leaders, our elected leaders, whom You blessed us with. Our leaders that we willingly voted for, with Your guidance. Please protect them. Please guide them on the right path.
“Oh Allah, the enemies of the people are scheming and planning to undermine our leaders, Oh Allah! Defeat the enemies of the people.
“Oh, Allah destroy the enemies of Kano State wherever they are. Oh Allah, the enemies of the state are there trying to steal the mandate of the people through the back door.
“Oh Allah, confuse them and defeat them, establish an enduring peace in our state.”
It would be recalled that the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal on Monday August 21, reserved judgment in a petition filed by the All Progressive Congress(APC) challenging the victory of Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
The APC is challenging INEC for declaring Kabir-Yusuf of the NNPP as winner of the election that was conducted on March 18, 2023.
Respondents in the petition are :INEC, Kabir-Yusuf and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
The three-member panel led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, said that 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 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” Akintan-Osadebay said
Earlier, Counsel to the APC, Offiong Offiong SAN, in adopting his final written addresses dated July 31, Aug.6, Aug. 7, and Aug.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 is not a member of NNPP before the election, he became a member after the election.
“All the ballot papers used in some local governments were not signed, stamped and dated”
Also adopting, Counsel to INEC, Emmanuel Osayomi, filed a written address dated Aug.1, and filed Aug.2.
“We also filed our final written address dated Aug.14, written address on the admissibility of documents on Aug.1 and on point of law on Aug.31”
Osayomi urged the court to dismiss the petition on the grounds that the petitioner did not prove his case.
Counsel to Kabir-Yusuf, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, filed his final written dated July 31 and filed on Aug.1.
“We filed our written addresses on points of law dated and filed Aug.11. we filed objection to the petition and admissibility of witness.
“We also filed additional authorities on Aug.18. I pray My Lord to dismiss this petition.
“I urge My Lord to disregard the position of Pw31 statement of oath dated May 26, there is no evidence” Awomolo said
Responding Counsel to NNPP, John Olusola-Baiyeshea SAN, adopted his in his written addresses dated July 30 and filed July 31.
He prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition absolutely, “this is 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.
Kabir-Yusuf closed his case on July 22, with the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Abdullahi Baffa-Bichi as a lone witness, while NNPP closed it case without calling any witness on July 24
The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday, deliver judgments in two cases involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.
According to information on the official website of the court, the matters, listed under “Political Appeals”, have been added to the cause list for Thursday, April 30, 2026.
While judgment in the ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, has been fixed for 2 pm, there is no time yet for that if the PDP.
President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the screening and subsequent confirmation of fifteen nominees to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The letter was read by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The letter seeks the reconstitution of the commission’s board in line with statutory provisions with the list comprising nominees from diverse professional backgrounds, including the media and legal sectors.
Among the nominees are the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors and Editor, Vanguard Newspapers, Mr. Eze Anaba; and Dr. Salamatu Hussaina Suleiman, who has been proposed as chairman of the board.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Dr. Anthony Ojukwu (SAN) is to retain his position as the Chief Executive Officer.
Other nominees include Mrs Roseline Tasha, Ambassador Adam Yubak Baku, ACG Felix Lawrence, Mr. Edmund Chinonye, Mr. Chinonye Obiaku (SAN), Oluwakemi Asiwaju Okere-Odo, Professor Adedeji Ogunji, Kingsley Chidozie, Mohammed Adelodu, Maupe Ogun Yusuf, and Otunba Francis Meshioye as members.
Also nominated are Patience Patrick and Hawwa Ibrahim, listed as members.
The President said the nominations were made pursuant to Section 2(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Establishment) Act, 2010, which empowers him to constitute the board subject to Senate confirmation.
He explained that the reconstitution of the board was necessary to enhance the commission’s institutional capacity and enable it to more effectively discharge its mandate to promote and protect human rights across the country.
If confirmed, the new board is expected to play a critical role in reinforcing the NHRC’s oversight functions, particularly at a time of heightened concerns over rights protection and accountability in Nigeria.
Following the presentation of the request, the Senate referred the nominations to its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for screening and report within two weeks.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has revealed that it investigated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze, for six months over suspected money laundering before clearing him.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman of the Commission, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking at the Jerry Eze Foundation Business Grant Award Ceremony in Abuja.
According to him, the probe was triggered by intelligence reports and petitions after the commission observed large inflows of foreign currencies into the cleric’s domiciliary account.
“We work by intelligence, we work by petitions. At some point, I saw there was an account, a domiciliary account. Dollars, pounds were dropping in like raindrops, from Colombia, from America, from Sri Lanka, even from Togo.
“I said who is this man? Yes, I’ve been hearing about his name, I’ve seen his face a couple of times. I never bothered about what he was doing. I knew he was a pastor.
“So they said this one pastor of streams of joy, go and investigate him. So we went to the investigation. We combed the books,” Olukoyede stated.
The EFCC boss said he subsequently invited Eze for questioning after preliminary findings were compiled by investigators.
He added that upon meeting the cleric and reviewing the findings of the investigation, the commission found no wrongdoing.
“So he came to my office. He told me what happens and all of that, and how the money came, what he does, how he has been helping people, and all of that.
“I said, you know what, I didn’t call you here to explain to me. We have already done our work. I called you here to commend you,” he stated.
The remark drew applause from the audience, as Eze, who was present at the event, acknowledged the commendation.
He noted that the commission has a responsibility not only to investigate financial crimes but also to recognise individuals found to have acted with integrity.
The EFCC chairman, however, stated that the agency would continue to monitor financial activities where necessary, stressing that its preventive mandate remains critical in tackling corruption.
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