BREAKING: Appeal Court Shocks APC, Reinstates Kano LG Elections as Valid - High Court Overruled!

ABUJA, NIGERIA - May 30, 2025 | All Facts Newspaper

In a legal twist that has thrown the All Progressives Congress (APC) off balance, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has nullified the judgment of the Federal High Court in Kano, declaring it lacked the jurisdiction to have meddled in the October 2024 Kano Local Government Elections.

The ruling, delivered by Justice Oyewumi, comes as a major victory for the Kano State Government and the ruling New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), effectively reinstating the results of the hotly contested local government elections which had earlier been marred by controversy and court drama.

Recall that the APC had dragged the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) to the Federal High Court over claims that its chairman, Prof. Sani Malumfashi, and several commissioners were active members of the NNPP-a move the APC argued was in gross violation of electoral neutrality.

In response to their suit, Justice A. M. Liman Amobeda of the Federal High Court ruled in favour of the APC and ordered an immediate suspension of the elections. However, the Kano State Government ignored the ruling and went ahead to conduct the polls, citing urgency and legitimacy under state electoral law.

Now, the Court of Appeal has slammed the brakes on that earlier ruling, categorically stating that the Federal High Court lacked the legal backing to interfere in matters under the jurisdiction of state election bodies. With this, the appellate court has upheld the legitimacy of the October 2024 local government elections and affirmed the NNPP's sweep at the grassroots level.

As of press time, APC's spokesperson in Kano, Ahmad Aruwa, has not issued any official response, despite multiple attempts by our correspondent to get a statement.

With this ruling, political observers believe this could set the tone for a powerful political storm in Kano State, especially as the 2027 general elections draw closer. Many have hailed the verdict as a judicial victory for electoral independence, while critics question why the elections were held despite an existing court order.