2019 Kano State gubernatorial election

Jafar Sani Bello, one of the gubernatorial aspirants in the PDP primary election approached the Federal High Court sitting in Kano in a suit seeking to Abba Kabir Yusuf, the PDP's flag bearer. The High Court in its ruling by Justice Ahmad Badamasi, stroke out the suit and said the case was filed out of the required 14 days after the primary election and thereby declared it as "status bar".{{Cite web|date=2019-03-04|title=Breaking: Court nullifies candidature of PDP gubernatorial candidate in Kano|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/317389-breaking-court-nullifies-candidature-of-pdp-gubernatorial-candidate-in-kano.html|access-date=2021-05-29|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=Obichie|first=Buchi|date=2019-06-18|title=Kano guber: Abba Yusuf is authentic PDP candidate - S'Court|url=https://www.legit.ng/1244155-kano-guber-abba-yusuf-authentic-pdp-candidate---scourt.html|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Legit.ng|language=en|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212501/https://www.legit.ng/1244155-kano-guber-abba-yusuf-authentic-pdp-candidate---scourt.html|url-status=dead}} Five days before the gubernatorial election, the PDP candidate, Abba Kabir Yusuf was sacked by the Federal High Court sitting in Kano.{{Cite web|last=Obiejesi|first=Kingsley|date=2019-03-04|title=Days to governorship election, court orders fresh PDP primary election in Kano|url=https://www.icirnigeria.org/days-to-governorship-election-court-orders-fresh-pdp-primary-election-in-kano/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=International Centre for Investigative Reporting|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|date=2019-03-06|title=Kano PDP gov candidate defies court ruling|url=https://punchng.com/kano-pdp-gov-candidate-defies-court-ruling/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Punch Newspapers|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Court sacks Kano PDP governorship candidate|url=https://dailytrust.com/court-sacks-kano-pdp-governorship-candidate|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Daily Trust|date=March 5, 2019|language=en}} Lewis Allagoa, who is the presiding judge of the Court 1, in his ruling, ruled that the PDP did not conduct a governorship primary election in the state.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-04|title=Court bars PDP's Yusuf from contesting in Kano governorship election|url=https://www.pulse.ng/news/politics/yusuf-court-bars-pdp-candidate-from-contesting-in-kano-governorship-election/d7t67k9|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}} The case was brought to the court by Ali Amin-little, one of the PDP gubernatorial aspirants in the primary election. Twenty four hours before the gubernatorial election in Kano State, the PDP candidate, Abba Kabir Yusuf approached the Appeal court sitting in Kaduna and obtained a stay of execution order to allow him participate in the gubernatorial election.{{Cite web|last=Luka|first=Yusuf|date=2019-03-08|title=March 9 Election: Appeal Court clears Kano PDP candidate|url=https://dailypost.ng/2019/03/08/march-9-election-appeal-court-clears-kano-pdp-candidate/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Daily Post Nigeria|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Dawakin-tofa|first=Sanusi Bature|date=2019-03-16|title=Appeal Court Upholds Candidature of Abba Yusuf as PDP Flagbearer for Kano|url=https://prnigeria.com/2019/03/16/court-upholds-abba-kano/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=PRNigeria News|language=en-US}}

Justice Daniel O. Kalio who presided over the ruling, granted all the prayers put forward by the appellant and restrained INEC from removing the name of the PDP candidate in the gubernatorial election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenigerianvoice.com/news/277494/engr-abba-kabir-yusuf-kano-pdp-governorship-candidate-wins.html|title=Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, Kano PDP governorship candidate Wins|website=Nigerian Voice}}{{Cite web|date=2019-03-08|title=Kano: Abba Yusuf of PDP gets Appeal Court clearance to run for gov|url=https://www.ripplesnigeria.com/kano-abba-yusuf-of-pdp-gets-appeal-court-clearance-to-run-for-gov/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Ripples Nigeria|language=en-US}} A week after the election, the Appeal court sitting in Kaduna dismissed an appeal filed by Jafar Sani Bello for lack of merit and re-affirmed the decision of Federal High Court sitting in Kano presided by Justice Ahmad Badamasi. Jafar Sani Bello, unsatisfied, took the case to the Supreme court and the Supreme court in a case presided by Justice Mary Peter-Odili and others, dismissed the appeal for lack of merit. A month after the gubernatorial election had been concluded, the Appeal court sitting in Kaduna, affirmed Abba Kabir Yusuf as the authentic PDP candidate in the election.{{Cite web|date=2019-01-14|title=Court strikes out suit seeking to disqualify Kwankwaso's in-law as Kano PDP Guber candidate|url=https://dailynigerian.com/court-strikes-out-suit-seeking-to-disqualify-kwankwasos-in-law-as-kano-pdp-guber-candidate/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Daily Nigerian|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2019-03-05|title=Court ruling: I'm Kano PDP gov candidate, Abba Yusuf insists|url=https://punchng.com/court-ruling-im-kano-pdp-gov-candidate-abba-yusuf-insists/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Punch Newspapers|language=en-US}} Justice Tanko Hussaini who presided over the judgement, said that the Federal High Court judge erred in law by assuming jurisdiction without the plaintiff, Ibrahim Little, joining the necessary party, Abba Kabir Yusuf.{{Cite web|title=Appeal Court Clears Kano PDP Governorship Candidate |url=https://www.naijanews.com/2019/03/08/appeal-court-clears-kano-pdp-governorship-candidate/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=www.naijanews.com|date=March 8, 2019}}{{Cite web|date=2019-03-08|title=March 9 Election: Court Okays Kano PDP Guber Candidate|url=https://leadership.ng/march-9-election-court-okays-kano-pdp-guber-candidate/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Leadership News - Nigeria News, Breaking News, Politics and more|language=en-GB|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213854/https://leadership.ng/march-9-election-court-okays-kano-pdp-guber-candidate/|url-status=dead}} The judge also said that Ali Amin-little, one of the PDP gubernatorial aspirants in the primary election, lacked locus standi to institute action challenging the process that he did not participate in.{{Cite web|title=Kano PDP Primary: Court Declares Abba Yusuf Winner|url=https://www.naijanews.com/2019/04/19/kano-pdp-primary-court-declares-abba-yusuf-winner/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=www.naijanews.com|date=April 19, 2019}}{{Cite web|title=Kano Court Confirms Yusuf As PDP Guber Candidate|url=https://independent.ng/kano-court-confirms-yusuf-as-pdp-guber-candidate/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Independent Newspaper Nigeria|language=en-GB}} Ali Amin-little unsatisfied, took the case to the Supreme court. On the day of the ruling, Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour-led seven-man panel of judges unanimously affirmed the candidature of the Abba Kabir Yusuf as the PDP candidate in the gubernatorial election and ruled that the appeal brought forward by Ali Amin-little lacked merit and dismissed same.{{Cite web|last=Olowolagba|first=Fikayo|date=2019-06-18|title=Kano Election: Abba-Yusuf wins in Supreme Court|url=https://dailypost.ng/2019/06/18/kano-election-abba-yusuf-wins-supreme-court/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Daily Post Nigeria|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Joshua|date=2019-05-24|title=Breaking: Supreme Court Affirms Abba Kabir as PDP Candidate|url=https://libertytvradio.com/breaking-supreme-court-affirms-abba-kabir-as-pdp-candidate/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Liberty TV/Radio|language=en-US}} The Supreme court held that Yusuf was not joined as a party in the suit by a contestant for the governorship ticket, Ali Amin-little.{{Cite web|date=2019-01-14|title=Kano court strikes out suit against PDP guber candidate|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/kano-court-strikes-suit-pdp-guber-candidate/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=The Nation|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-02-10|title=Jafar Sani Bello v. Abba K. Yusuf & ORS|url=https://lawcarenigeria.com/jafar-sani-bello-v-abba-k-yusuf-ors-2019/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=LawCareNigeria|language=en-US}}

Independent National Electoral Commission declared the election inconclusive on March 11, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.icirnigeria.org/inec-sets-date-for-supplementary-elections-in-kano-plateau-4-other-states/|title=INEC sets date for supplementary elections in Kano, Plateau, 4 other states|first=Amos|last=Abba|date=March 13, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/03/breaking-inec-holds-supplementary-election-in-adamawa-kano-bauchi-benue-others-march-23/|title=Breaking: INEC holds supplementary election in Adamawa, Kano, Bauchi, Benue others March 23|date=March 12, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.legit.ng/1228917-inec-lists-18-states-supplementary-elections-hold-march-23.html|title=INEC lists 18 states where supplementary elections will hold on March 23|first=Eromosele|last=Ebhomele|date=March 22, 2019|website=Legit.ng - Nigeria news.}} A supplementary election was now held by the same Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on March 23, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://dailynigerian.com/breaking-inec-declares-kano-governorship-election-inconclusive/|title=Why INEC declared Kano governorship election inconclusive|date=March 11, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/news/inec-fixes-march-23-for-extra-polls-in-six-states/|title=INEC fixes March 23 for extra polls in six states|date=March 13, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-inec-declares-kano-guber-poll-inconclusive|title=INEC declares Kano guber poll inconclusive|date=March 11, 2019|website=TheCable}} Abdullahi Umar Ganduje from the APC won the election defeating Abba Kabir Yusuf and other 53 candidates.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-24|title=Breaking: Over 1million Votes Not Enough For PDP As Ganduje Wins Controversial Kano Gov Election|url=http://saharareporters.com/2019/03/24/breaking-over-1million-votes-not-enough-pdp-ganduje-wins-controversial-kano-gov-election|access-date=2021-04-14|website=Sahara Reporters}}{{Cite web|date=2018-02-24|title=2019: APC, PDP set for war in Kano, Kaduna, 13 other 'fluid' states|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/2019-apc-pdp-set-war-kano-kaduna-13-fluid-states/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=The Nation|language=en-US}}{{Cite journal|date=2019-01-01|title=Incumbents will dominate Nigerian gubernatorial polls|url=https://doi.org/10.1108/OXAN-DB242403|journal=Emerald Expert Briefings|volume=oxan-db|issue=oxan-db|doi=10.1108/OXAN-DB242403|s2cid=241519045|issn=2633-304X}}

The total number of registered voters in the state was 5,457,747, accredited voters was 2,269,305, total votes cast was 2,242,369 and rejected votes was 50,861.{{Cite web|date=2019-02-12|title=For the Record: 2019 Elections: INEC List of Registered Voters in 36 States, FCT|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/features-and-interviews/312054-for-the-record-2019-elections-inec-list-of-registered-voters-in-36-states-fct.html|access-date=2021-04-14|language=en-GB}}{{Cite news|date=2015-04-14|title=Corrected-Table-Nigerian governorship election results|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/nigeria-election-governors-idAFL5N0XB36020150414|access-date=2021-05-29}}{{Cite web|date=2018-07-27|title=APC has prepared grounds for us to win 2019 elections —Kano PDP chairman|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/apc-has-prepared-grounds-for-us-to-win-2019-elections-kano-pdp-chairman/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Tribune Online|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=2019-03-24|title=Nigeria ruling party stages come-back in key state vote|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190324-nigeria-ruling-party-stages-come-back-key-state-vote|access-date=2021-05-29|website=France 24|language=en}}

• Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, (APC)- 1,033,695
• Abba Kabir Yusuf, PDP- 1,024,713

Months after the election, Abba Kabir Yusuf the PDP's candidate in the election, challenged the election at the Tribunal.{{Cite web|date=2019-04-01|title=Abba Gida Gida will reclaim his stolen mandate in Court -Kano PDP chairman|url=https://www.blueprint.ng/abba-gida-gida-will-reclaim-his-stolen-mandate-in-court-kano-pdp-chairman/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Blueprint Newspapers Limited|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Edokwe|first=Bridget|date=2019-06-04|title='INEC, APC frustrating my petition before Tribunal' – Kano PDP Guber Candidate, Abba Yusuf cries out|url=https://www.barristerng.com/inec-apc-frustrating-my-petition-before-tribunal-kano-pdp-guber-candidate-abba-yusuf-cries-out/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=BarristerNG.com|language=en-US}} The Tribunal in a judgement at High Court, in miller road, Kano, for over three hours, read by the chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Halima Shamaki, dismissed the petition by Abba Kabir Yusuf of the PDP seeking to nullify the victory of Ganduje.{{Cite web|url=https://www.legit.ng/1292473-supreme-court-suspends-appeal-hearing-tambuwal-ganduje-ihedioha-others.html|title=Breaking: Supreme Court hearing suspended over rowdiness, sick judge|first=Onyirioha|last=Nnamdi|date=January 13, 2020|website=Legit.ng - Nigeria news.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.legit.ng/1294649-supreme-court-ganduje-pleads-support-defeated-pdp.html|title=Supreme Court: Ganduje pleads for support from defeated PDP|first=Eromosele|last=Ebhomele|date=January 20, 2020|website=Legit.ng - Nigeria news.}}{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/news/how-supmreme-court-ruling-on-imo-may-affect-ganduje/|title='How Supreme Court ruling on Imo may affect Ganduje '|date=January 16, 2020}} The Tribunal dismissed the petition for lacking merit.{{Cite web|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/apc-pdp-claim-victory-in-benue-kano-bauchi-others/|title=APC, PDP claim victory in Benue, Kano, Bauchi, others|date=March 18, 2019|website=The Nation}}{{Cite web|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/pdp-to-inec-declare-abba-yusuf-winner-of-kano-gov-election-now/|title=PDP To INEC: Declare Abba Yusuf winner of Kano gov election now|date=March 23, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecable.ng/kwankwaso-kano-rerun-will-determine-inecs-credibility|title=Kwankwaso: Kano rerun will determine INEC's credibility|date=March 19, 2019|website=TheCable}} The tribunal ruled that the PDP candidate failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt.{{Cite web|url=https://newsdiaryonline.com/breaking-supreme-court-affirms-ganduje-as-governor-of-kano/|title=Breaking: Supreme Court affirms Ganduje as governor of Kano Newsdiaryonline|first=Chimezie|last=Godfrey|date=January 20, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kanyidaily.com/2020/01/supreme-court-affirms-election-of-aminu-tambuwal-as-governor-of-sokoto-state.html|title = Supreme Court Affirms Election of Aminu Tambuwal as Governor of Sokoto State | Kanyi Daily News|date = January 20, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://dailypost.ng/2020/01/20/breaking-supreme-court-affirms-gandujes-election-dismisses-yusufs-appeal/|title=Supreme Court affirms Ganduje's election, dismisses Yusuf's appeal|first=George|last=Opara|date=January 20, 2020}} The Tribunal then upheld Ganduje's election and said that the cancellation that followed the Gama Ward election and others which brought about the March 23, 2019 re-run was not only constitutional, but also valid.{{Cite web|date=2019-04-30|title=Kano PDP Candidate, Abba Yusuf Hit By A Major Set Back From Tribunal, There's No Stopping Ganduje|url=http://ng.dailyadvent.com/politics/2019/04/30/kano-pdp-candidate-abba-yusuf-hit-by-a-major-set-back-from-tribunal-theres-no-stopping-ganduje/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Daily Advent Nigeria|language=en-US}} Many months later, the case was also heard in the Appeal court sitting in Kaduna.{{Cite web|url=https://thelinksnews.com/2019/11/22/breaking-appeal-court-affirms-gandujes-election/|title=Breaking: Appeal Court affirms Ganduje's election | The Links News|date=November 22, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://punchng.com/breaking-appeal-court-reaffirms-gandujes-election/|title=Appeal Court reaffirms Ganduje's election|date=November 22, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/news/appeal-court-upholds-gandujes-election/|title=Appeal court upholds Ganduje's election|date=November 22, 2019}} Justice Tijjani Abubakar-led five-man panel of Appeal court judges unanimously ruled that the appeal brought forward by Abba Kabir Yusuf and his party, the PDP lacked merit and dismissed the appeal in its entirety and affirmed that Abdullahi Umar Ganduje was elected by the majority of Kano State voters.{{Cite web|title=Now that Appeal Court has affirmed Ganduje's victory |url=https://www.pressreader.com/nigeria/daily-trust/20191125/281943134730091|access-date=2021-05-29|via=PressReader}}{{Cite web|date=2019-11-22|title=Kano Guber: Appeal Court affirms Ganduje's election|url=https://affairstv.com/2019/11/22/kano-guber-appeal-court-affirms-gandujes-election/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Affairs TV News|language=en-US}} The case was also heard in the Supreme court sitting in Abuja.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-20|title=Supreme Court Affirms Tambuwal's Election As Sokoto Governor|url=https://sundiatapost.com/supreme-court-affirms-tambuwals-election-as-sokoto-governor/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=SundiataPost|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Supreme Court affirms Ganduje's election, dismisses Yusuf's appeal |url=https://thenewtimespress.com/archives/6391|access-date=2021-05-29|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Focus|first=Kano|title=Ganduje vs Abba: The journey to the Supreme Court|date=January 20, 2020 |url=https://kanofocus.com/2020/01/20/ganduje-vs-abba-the-journey-to-the-supreme-court/|access-date=2021-05-29|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Kano guber: Ganduje, Abba optimistic as S/Court hears case tomorrow|url=https://dailytrust.com/kano-guber-ganduje-abba-optimistic-as-s-court-hears-case-tomorrow|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Daily Trust|date=January 12, 2020|language=en}} The Supreme court seven-man panel of judges unanimously held that Abba Kabir Yusuf and his party, the PDP did not show the Election Tribunal and the Appeal court were wrong in this earlier rulings.{{Cite web|last=Akintomide|first=Akindotun|date=2020-01-20|title=Updated! S'Court Affirms APC's Ganduje, PDP's Tambuwal's Re-elections|url=https://newdiplomatng.com/breaking-kano-guber-supreme-court-affirms-gandujes-election/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=The New Diplomat|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=[Updated] Kano Election: Ganduje, Abba Yusuf To Know Fate On Monday|url=https://www.channelstv.com/2020/01/14/breaking-supreme-court-to-deliver-judgment-on-kano-governorship-election-monday/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=Channels Television}} The panel then dismissed the appeal for lack of merit.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-20|title=Kano Governorship: How APC, PDP argued before Supreme Court|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nwest/373468-kano-governorship-how-apc-pdp-argued-before-supreme-court.html|access-date=2021-05-29|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=2019-11-23|title=Appeal Court affirms Ganduje, Tambuwal as Kano, Sokoto governors|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/appeal-court-affirms-ganduje-tambuwal-as-kano-sokoto-governors/|access-date=2021-05-29|website=The Nation|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-02-19|title=Kwankwaso asks supreme court to review Kano governorship case|url=https://www.thecable.ng/kwankwaso-asks-supreme-court-to-review-kano-governorship-case|access-date=2021-05-29|website=TheCable|language=en-US}}

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{{2019 Nigeria elections}}

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Category:Kano State gubernatorial elections

Kano State gubernatorial election

Category:March 2019 in Nigeria