The All Progressives Congress (APC) has lauded the judiciary for its ruling in the Kano State governorship election and urged it to continue to rise above blackmail and intimidation by some self-serving political interests.

Felix Morka, the APC national publicity secretary, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

“In an epochal judgement earlier today, the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja upheld the decision of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

“That declared Nasiru Gawuna of the APC winner of the March 18, 2023, Kano State governorship election, affirming the legitimate will of the Kano electorate as expressed at the polls.

“This judgement sacking Abba Kabi Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as Governor of Kano State comes barely 24 hours after the court declared the governorship election of Zamfara inconclusive,” Mr Morka said.

The spokesman for APC added that the court had also ordered a rerun in three local government areas of Zamfara.

Mr Morka said both judgements underscored the vibrancy and independence of the judiciary and also rekindled confidence that the courts were and remained the bastion of hope for justice in any democracy.

He applauded the judiciary for its courage and professionalism in discharging its important constitutional duties.

“We urge it to continue to rise above blackmail and intimidation by some self-serving political interests and continue to give full expression to the tenets of the law, irrespective of the identity or status of parties involved.

“We congratulate our victorious members and urge the good people of Kano and Zamfara to remain calm and peaceful.”

Addressing journalists, Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC national chairman, said the Appeal Court’s judgement was a victory for Kano State, the APC and Nigeria as a whole.

He said it was also a victory for Nigeria‘s democracy, adding that it was a testimony that the country’s democracy had matured and had come to stay.

Mr Ganduje lauded the judiciary for a sound judgement and the opposition NNPP for dragging the APC to court, saying it helped to add colour to the country’s democracy and jurisprudence.

“I thank Allah for this important judgement, we have to thank the judiciary for providing good administration of justice despite all the distractions that took place since the beginning of the case.

“We have to thank the judiciary, there is no doubt this is a victory for democracy. It is a victory for APC and a victory for Kano State.

“This is an indication that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. Democracy, we can say, is mature in Nigeria. We thank all those stakeholders, even the opposition political parties and the NNPP, who took us to the Appeal Court.

“We have to thank them because they are part of the process of democracy. There is no doubt that after the election you get to litigations, and the end result is always determined by the judiciary,” Mr Ganduje said.

While saying that God granted the APC favour at the Appeal Court, Mr Ganduje assured the people of Kano State of a better government under the APC.

He said even if the NNPP decided to go to the Supreme Court, the APC would meet them there and win again.

“But in all, probably they will go to the Supreme Court, which is part of democracy, there is nothing wrong for them to go to the Supreme Court.

“We, too, are ready to meet them in the Supreme Court, and we will win there as well,” he said.

Mr Gawuna, in his response, thanked Allah for the court judgment, saying he was happy that his election was affirmed by the court.

“And I am so happy, yet I am still deep in my thoughts because I have to sit down and think very well because of the confidence and expectations of the people around us.

“We are praying that we are not going to fail our people,” he said.

(NAN)