In a twist to the ongoing legal tussle over the Kano state governorship election, over 500 lawyers have volunteered to back the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr Yusuf Nasir Gawuna, at the Supreme Court.
This development comes days after about 200 lawyers reportedly rallied behind incumbent governor Abba Yusuf of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP).
The lawyers, under the platform, The Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, made their pledge during a press briefing in Abuja.
Spokesperson for the platform, Barrister Joseph E. Onwudiwe, expressed concern over an alleged plot to blackmail the judiciary into ruling in favour of the NNPP.
He urged the NNPP to exercise restraint and await the final verdict of the Supreme Court.
“The importance of the judiciary in keeping our democracy alive and thriving can never be overemphasised,” Onwudiwe said.
“It is on this background that we implore the Supreme Court to dispense justice in this appeal before it without taking into consideration the distractions and attempts at blackmail.”
The lawyers vowed to stand with the judiciary in its efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.
“We are with the judiciary, and we assure them of our unflinching support as they move to save Nigeria’s democracy from vote riggers and election fraudsters,” Onwudiwe declared.
He called on peace-loving Nigerians to defend the country’s democracy from those seeking to undermine it.
“Our democracy is stronger and bigger than any group or political party,” Onwudiwe asserted.
“The African continent has witnessed many democracies being truncated in recent times. We warn the Kano Governor, the NNPP, and their agents to desist from taking actions that threaten our nascent democracy.”
The lawyers insisted that the valid votes cast by Kano citizens must be upheld.
“It is based on these and in defense of democracy and the authentic winner of the March 18 Kano gubernatorial election, Gawuna, that we, the over 500 lawyers from across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, decided to join the defense team of Gawuna at the Supreme Court,” Onwudiwe added.
