19th November, 2023
South West Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Dr Babatunde Oke has chided the Kano State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) over the Court of Appeal Judgement which ruled that Kano state governor, Abba Yusuf is not a member of the NNPP, saying the APC and the Court have no right to determine who is a member of the NNPP.
Oke made this known on Sunday while addressing journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital in reaction to the judgement of the Court of Appeal which on Friday, affirmed the tribunal judgment which declared the Kano state APC candidate, Nasiru Gawuna winner of the governorship election.
Delivering judgment on the matter on Friday, the Appeal Court held that Yusuf was not qualified to contest the election, because he is not a member of the NNPP.
But Oke told journalists that the Appeal Court judgement will be upturned by the Supreme Court, saying political parties have supremacy over its own affairs.
He said from the previous judgements, it has been ascertained that political parties have supremacy over its own affairs and no Court can inquire into the membership or leadership of a Political Party.
“The issue of membership of a political party is a party affairs and it’s outside the purview of Court’s jurisdiction. It is a matter which only political party can decide. To inquire into such would amount to a Court poking into the internal or domestic affairs of the party.
“In the Case of Tinubu vs Obi, same Court ruled that the candidate’s membership is a party affair.
“In the case of Abba vs Gawuna, same Court ruled that it has jurisdiction to interfere in the party’s membership. Same country, same court, same judges but different judgement, this is surprising. APC should not destroy the judiciary”.
In the documents presented to Journalists at the briefing signed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the of Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf’s name was clearly shown on 56209 of the NNPP members registration.
“Where did the Appeal Court and APC see their own membership register that Abba Kabir Yusuf’s name was not found.
“Our national Secretary, Dipo Olayoku on June 23, 2023 requested true certified copy of Kano membership registration.
“The letter which was addressed to the Secretary, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, tittled: Request for certified true copy of updated NNPP membership register submitted to the commission.
“The letter reads: We hereby request for the Certified True copy of our updated Party Membership Register earlier submitted to the Commission.
“This certification of our copy of register becomes necessary for Court processes involving our Party.
“We agree to take charge of all due fees, while awaiting your quick action, please accept our best regards.
“And the copy was presented to us after the statutory payment of eleven thousand one hundred and sixty one naira, twenty-five kobo (N11,161. 25k) was paid to the INEC.
“And the name of Kano state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf was clearly shown on 56209 of the NNPP members registration”.
A chieftain of the party, Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo also expressed optimism that Yusuf will be affirmed as the Kano State Governor by the Supreme Court.
Ajadi said even the APC’s argument at the Tribunal was different from that at the Appeal Court and wondered whether they started a new case at the Appeal Court.
He maintained that what Appeal Court ruled upon has been argued in many cases and court but the rulings on those cases were judged as an intra party, which doesn’t concern any other person or party, wondering why that of Kano will be different.
He called on the good people of Kano State to remain calm and avoid provocation from the opposition who are enjoying a temporary victory.
“It is surprising that the judgements of the two courts are even different. While the Tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Osadebay nullified the election of Governor Abba Yusuf by declaring 165, 663 of his votes invalid.
“The tribunal held that the ballot papers were not signed nor stamped by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“The Court of Appeal in its judgement held that Yusuf was not in the membership register of his political party, which has been argued in the past and the judgement was that membership of a candidate rest on the party and its members.
“This is surprising, to say a candidate of the party, that campaigned across the nook and crannies of the state and was voted for overwhelmingly by the people is not a member of the party is unbelievable.
“I urged His Excellency, Governor Abba Yusuf to remain calm, as this judgement cannot stand the test of time.
“I stand with Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwakwanso and also urge our supporters nationwide to remain calm.
“The people of Kano know that our party is the leading party in the state and this has been demonstrated in the elections.
“NNPP has the highest members of the State Assembly, highest members of the national assembly from the state and we are with the grassroots”.