The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has nullified the decision of the Federal High Court in Kano, thereby affirming the validity of the Kano State local government elections held in October 2024.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice Oyewumi of the appellate court declared that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), let alone issue a ruling to halt the elections.
The APC had earlier approached the Federal High Court, seeking to stop the elections on the grounds that the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), Prof. Sani Malumfashi, along with several commissioners, were allegedly card-carrying members of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). Justice A.M. Liman Amobeda of the High Court subsequently ruled in the party’s favor, ordering an injunction to stop the scheduled polls.
Despite the ruling, the elections went ahead as planned in October.
Dissatisfied with the High Court’s decision, the Kano State Government filed an appeal, challenging the court’s jurisdiction. The Appeal Court has now upheld that appeal, ruling that the High Court lacked the legal authority to adjudicate on a matter concerning local government elections.
As of the time of filing this report, the APC has yet to issue an official reaction. Multiple attempts to reach the party’s spokesperson, Ahmad Aruwa, for comment were unsuccessful.
Comments