Thousands of residents of Kano have poured onto the streets to welcome Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf home after the Supreme Court’s verdict reinstating his election victory.
The peaceful celebration, adorned in a sea of red and white – the colours of Yusuf’s New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) – is a testament to the relief across the state following the court’s decision, which affirmed the governor’s election in the March 18th gubernatorial poll.
Recall that the election was initially annulled by both the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal. These rulings had declared Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the rightful governor. However, in a dramatic turn of events, the Supreme Court in Abuja overturned both judgements last Friday.
Governor Yusuf, his Deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, members of the state Executive Council, and NNPP bigwigs who had travelled to Abuja to witness the Supreme Court ruling made their way to Kano by road and were caught in celebration, as at the time of filling this report.
Hundreds of thousands of supporters and members of the NNPP have already gathered at Chiromawa village, along Zaria Road, the entry from Abuja, while many others lined up along the streets leading to Filin Mahaha, the venue of the grand victory rally, where Governor Yusuf is expected to address the crowd.
