Security agencies in Kano have vowed to forestall the breakdown of law and order as anxiety continues to mount ahead of today’s final verdict of the Supreme Court in the Kano State governorship election.
The Kano State Governor and candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Abba Yusuf, is seeking to overturn the verdicts of the Court of Appeal and election petitions tribunal, which nullified his victory in the March 18 governorship poll.
The two lower courts declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Nasir Gawuna, as the winner of the poll.
Sleeknews reports that the judgment of the Court of Appeal sacking Yusuf created tension and provoked protests in Kano, following reported discrepancies in the certified true copy of the judgment, which the court later said was a clerical error.
The Supreme Court had fixed Friday as the day it would deliver judgment in the appeal, a development that is currently generating tension and fear among supporters of the ruling NNPP, those of the opposition APC, and residents of the state.
Our correspondent in Kano observed that supporters of both parties and other residents of Kano were apprehensive about today’s judgment, with many of them taking panic measures in anticipation of the unpredictable judgment.
Many parents decided that they would not allow their children to go to school today (Friday) for fear of the unknown, even as businesses, markets and shopping malls may not open.
Some residents have also indicated their intention to remain indoors and monitor the reactions of people to the judgment from their respective homes.
The chairman of the NNPP, Hashimu Dungurawa, in the state, told Sleeknews the party was expectant of a victorious judgment.
Speaking in a telephone interview with The PUNCH on Thursday, Hashimu said, “We’re very happy to have the day of the judgment coming tomorrow morning (today). On our side, we the NNPP, are of full confidence that justice will be done tomorrow (today).
“Our case will be similar to that of the President and that of Benue. The judgment came in their favour, so we hope something like that will happen to our case tomorrow (today), God willing.”
Allaying fear of violence, he said, “We Kwankwasiya people are law-abiding citizens,” noting that their members were ready to allow peace to reign.
The APC Publicity Secretary, Ahmed Aruwa, could not be reached for comments as his line was not connecting.
Meanwhile, the Kano State Police Command assured residents of the state of their safety before, during and after today’s judgment.
The state Commissioner of Police, Usaini Gumel, gave the assurance at an interactive session with newsmen at the Command’s Headquarters at Bompai in Kano on Thursday.
According to him, the command has taken adequate security measures that would enable residents of the state to go about their legitimate businesses without threat to lives and property.
Gumel said an effective operational order on how to provide security in each of the 44 local government areas in the state had been issued to the area commanders and divisional police officers for immediate implementation.
“We have mobilised sufficient armed personnel to provide security at all flash points, including political parties offices, Government House, INEC headquarters, Banks/Commercial Areas, mosques, churches, recreation centres and motor parks before, during and after the judgment.
“I am giving 100 per cent assurance to all law-abiding residents of the state to go about freely with their daily activities without threat to lives and property,” Gumel said.
He, therefore, called on all residents of the state to continue to cooperate with the armed security personnel and to share actionable intelligence information on any person or group planning to breach the peace currently being enjoyed by the residents.
On his part, the spokesperson for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Kano, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the NSCDC had met with the military, police and other security agencies in the state to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
“The state commandant today (Thursday) attended a meeting with all the security agencies in the state – the police, the military and all the paramilitary agencies in the state. (They) met at the police headquarters in Kano. Crucial issues were discussed as to the modalities and strategies to be put in place to avert any potential breakdown of law and order in the state. We have our personnel on the ground and the state commandant has charged them to do all they can to make sure that they maintain peace and order in the state,” Abdullahi said.