The judges of the Kano governorship election tribunal were noticeably absent from the courtroom on the day of the judgment due to recent threats to their safety, according to Daily Trust.
The tribunal was expected to deliver its verdict on Wednesday in response to a petition submitted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) disputing Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s election victory under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). This unanticipated absence has left journalists, lawyers, party members, and the public feeling perplexed and anxious.
Sources at the scene reported tight control over courtroom access, with journalists and spectators being denied entry. The situation escalated when the secretariat declared that the verdict would not be broadcast live, and the few journalists allowed inside were strictly forbidden from using smartphones or cameras.
Top security officials were unable to locate the judges, sparking rumors that the proceedings might be conducted virtually. Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, the head of the three-person panel, eventually addressed the gathered crowd through Zoom.
The absence of the judges has not gone unnoticed. The tribunal has been the subject of numerous allegations and counter-allegations in recent days. Adamu Kibiya, the former Commissioner of Land and Physical Planning, threatened the judges to choose between their duty and safety when delivering the verdict during a protest held by members of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the state. “People voted for us, and some individuals are attempting to do injustice. We want to tell the judges that we will not accept this. Any judge willing to deprive us of our rights will regret it. Whatever will happen, we won’t care…,” he declared.