Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano has hired renowned lawyer Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) to represent him in his appeal to overturn the election tribunal’s decision and reclaim his mandate.
According to a copy of the appeal notice that was shared with the press on Friday, Olanipekun, who previously led the legal team representing President Bola Tinubu in the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), is now serving as the attorney for Governor Yusuf.
Other members of the governor’s legal team include Bode Olanipekun (SAN), Ibrahim G. Waru, and Akintola Makinde, with the law firm Wole Olanipekun & Co handling the appeal process.
On the other hand, Chief E.O.B. Offiong (APC) continues to act as the legal counsel for the APC.
To recap, in the previous month, the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had removed Yusuf of the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) from office and declared his opponent, Nasir Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the March 18 gubernatorial election.
However, Yusuf appealed the tribunal’s decision to the Court of Appeal on 42 grounds, asking the court to overturn the tribunal’s judgment and dismiss the APC’s petition.