By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ruled to sack Musa Ilyasu Kwankwaso of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and reinstate Yusuf Umar Datti of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as the rightful representative of the Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam Federal Constituency election in Kano State.
The ruling was made by a three-man panel led by Justice Tunde Oyebamiji Awotoye, who stated that Datti’s appeal had merit and allowed it to proceed.
The panel criticized the tribunal’s decision to count the date of the appellant’s resignation on the day of his party primary, emphasizing that Section 77 of the Electoral Act was misapplied.
They clarified that the matter of membership within a political party is an internal affair, beyond the jurisdiction of the court.
This ruling marks a significant victory for Yusuf Umar Datti and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, reaffirming the importance of fair electoral processes and adherence to legal procedures.