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