The Supreme Court has affirmed election of Abba Yusuf as the duly elected governor of Kano State.

Justice John Okoro who read the lead judgment held that the lower court was wrong in its judgment to have deducted 165,616 votes from the vote secured by the governor

The Supreme Court ruled that the respondents’ claim that the 165,616 ballot papers were not from INEC could not be proven.

The apex noted that by virtue of section 63(1) of the Electoral Act before a ballot paper can be declared invalid, it must be proven that it was not given to the presiding officer.

The court said the ballot papers in question were both signed and stamped, the only feature left out, was the date. It then ruled that 165,616 should be added to the votes secured by Abba Yusuf.

The apex court said the court of Appeal was wrong to find that the governor was not a member of the NNPP.

The issue of nomination of a candidate is a pre-election and no political party can interfere with how another party nominated its candidates.