Protests erupted in Kano City and its environs in response to the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal that sacked the Kano state governor, Abba Yusuf.
The protesters denounced the court’s decision, expressing their support for Yusuf.
The Court of Appeal had provided a contradictory certified true copy affirming the prayers of both the appellant and the respondent in the contentious Kano governorship case.
Huge crowds of protesters gathered at strategic locations in the city, disrupting commercial activities. The protesters, mostly youths, called for justice for Abba Yusuf, carrying placards with messages such as “Kano my city my state,” “Justice for Kano,” and “Abba’s mandate was stolen in 2019, we will not allow it to happen in 2023.”
The protest took place on major roads, including Kano-Zaria road, Maiduguri road by Muhammadu Buhari’s interchange, and Kantin Kwari (Kano textile market). The demonstrators voiced their dissatisfaction with the court’s decision and demanded justice for the ousted governor.
The police in Kano had earlier warned about faceless groups planning to unleash violence in the city. Seven suspects were reportedly arrested, and the police assured that they were on top of the situation. The Commissioner of Police, Hussaini Gumel, emphasized that anyone found acting outside the peace pact signed by the contending political parties would be treated as a common criminal.
Following several hours of peaceful protest, normalcy was restored in the ancient city. The demonstrations reflected the political tensions surrounding the court’s decision and the public’s reaction to the perceived injustice.
