The Nigerian police on Monday, November 20, said the command has uncovered a plan by some political parties in Kano state to violently protest the Appeal Court judgment which upheld Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf‘s sack from office.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, said the plan is to enter the streets in form of a protest to the court’s ruling with the intention of shutting down the State in an action that may result in violence.
He urged residents to be law abiding and report any suspicious movement, person(s) or item(s) they come across to the nearest Police Station or police emergency phone numbers.
The commissioner, in a statement by the police spokesman, Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, revealed that the party supporters were using unconventional media platforms to mobilise people for the riot.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja had on Friday upheld the nullification of the election of Governor Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) by the state election petition tribunal.
The State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had, in its judgment of September 20 declared Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the duly elected governor of Kano state.
Before the judgment in September, there was anxiety in the state as the sacked Commissioner of Lands and Physical Planning, Adamu Kibiya, threatened to kill the judges if their verdict would not be in favour of Yusuf.
Thus, Police Commissioner Gumel, working with the military and other heads of security agencies in the State, said he has been deploying personnel and equipment to identified strategic locations in the State to ensure the security of lives and property and forestall any attempt to cause disturbance or breakdown of law and order because of the governorship election legal battle.
Gumel on Monday alerted that in spite of his efforts, political party fanatics were plotting to stage a violent protest against the latest judgment.
He however, warned that whoever attempts to disrupt the peace in Kano State will be arrested and punished.
“The call is as a result of credible information at the Command’s disposal that revealed the intention of some groups of political party supporters using unconventional media platforms, mobilizing people and planning to enter the streets in form of protest to the Kano State Governorship Appeal Court’s verdict which was delivered on Friday, 17th November 2023.
“The information revealed that the intention of the protesters is to shutdown the State in an action that may likely result in violence.
“It’s on this note that the police command issued warning to residents of the state to be extra-careful as whoever intends to conduct any protest or procession should do so in accordance with the provisions of the law,” he said.
Gumel reminded that prior to the appeal court ruling, he invited the leaderships of NNPP and APC to the Kano State Police Command where they signed a peace accord on Thursday, November 16.
“The objective of the peace accord was to maintain harmony and ensure that the political landscape in Kano State remained peaceful, irrespective of the judgment’s outcome,” he said.
He added: “In furtherance, the leadership of the two political parties promised that; no politically motivated clusters of people would be allowed at any location under whatever guise, their supporters would not engage in any mass action suggesting preparation for violent processions, protests, or celebrations that may trigger reactions, unguarded statements from their members likely to increase political tension or undermine the security arrangements and sanctity of the Judiciary would be avoided, they will remain committed to on behalf of their parties to monitor, adhere and comply with the details contained in the peace accord signed before the Kano State Police Command, their parties will support all the arrangements put in place by the security apparatus to maintain peace and order, and that any person or group of persons directly or indirectly found disrupting the peace before, during and after the Appeal Court Judgment shall face the full wrath of the Law
“In view of the above, the Commissioner of Police calls on all residents to maintain calmness and avoid any form of unlawful gathering, protest, or procession that may trigger violence as joint security forces have since been dispatched to strategic locations to safeguard peace and order throughout the State.
“Whoever attempts to disrupt the peace in the State will be arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.”
