…By Comfort Ibrahim, Kano
Hundreds of Protesters stormed Kano State Government House on Monday to protest alleged attempt to bribe judges of the election petition tribunal in Kano state.
The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as, “All eyes are on the Judiciary, they must do Justice but not through intimidation and curruption means”, “Labour Party: Kano state 2023 general elections is free and fair, accepted by Kano people,” “Mr. Gandollar, Mr. Corruption stop attempting to compromise Judgement,” “Gandollar leave the Judges alone. They are not corrupt like you,” “128,000 gap, you still want to steal election. Get ready to die Miserably,” “Give peace a chance, a word is enough for the wise”.
The protesters, under the umbrella body of Northwest Civil Society Anti Curruption Network, called for justice at the election petition tribunal, noting that any attempt to manipulate the tribunal will not mean well for the democracy of the country.
The group is protesting against the alleged attempt to induce Judges of the election petition tribunal in the state, noting that the allegation is too heavy to be ignored in the interest of Democratic governance in Nigeria.
Spokesperson for the group, Ibrahim Waiya, pointed out that, they were at the Government House to present a letter to President Bola Tinubu through the governor, demanding that, the tribunal and judges should be allowed to carryout judicial function without any interference.
“It is our duty as citizen to ensure the survival of democracy in Nigeria. We say No to any form of threat to Democracy through bribery to manipulate the judge of the election Tribunal in Kano State.
While receiving the protesters, Kano state Governor, Abba Yusuf Kabiru, promised to take their letter to President Bola Tinubu. He also commended the Judge for exposing the attempt to bribe some of the judges in the legal team.
Meanwhile, the Election petition tribunal in Kano state has reserved a date to deliver judgement.
Earlier, the Kano State Police Command in an emergency public announcement issued by the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, banned street protests accross the state, noting that, it has come to their knowledge that, both the APC and the NNPP members are mobilizing rented crowd in the guise of Civil Society Coalition and without clearance from the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and without prior approval from the security agencies in the state.
He however added that both organizers as well as the umbrella body should note that any attempt to disrespect NLC and the Security Agencies in the state, by playing around the fragile security situation, which the combined security agencies have been managing, is not only uncivil, criminal but also an offense against National Security.
“Checks have so far been conducted by this Police Command and it’s revealing that some members of the two political parties who are influencing the members of the Civil Society to embark on this decision is merely as a result of their apprehensions and to pre-empt the judgement of the election Tribunal,” the Commissioner said.
