Ahead of the Kano state governorship case at the Supreme Court, more than 500 private lawyers have volunteered to defend the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Nasir Gawuna. This comes in response to over 200 lawyers offering to represent the dismissed Governor Abba Yusuf and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the appeal suit at the apex court.
The lawyers, organized under the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, state that their decision to defend Gawuna is driven by the aim to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy from vote rigging and election fraud. Joseph E. Onwudiwe, the group’s spokesperson, shared this information with reporters in Abuja.
Expressing confidence in Gawuna’s case, especially after victories at the governorship election petition tribunal and the Appeal Court, the legal practitioners stressed their commitment to preserving democratic values. They emphasized the importance of upholding justice and preventing attacks on the judiciary.
The group condemned attempts to undermine the judiciary and manipulate the court to support electoral malfeasance. They applauded the judgements of the tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which upheld the valid votes cast in the March 18 Kano Governorship election against those attempting electoral fraud.
The lawyers called on Nigerians to reject misleading narratives and defend democracy against desperate politicians using illegal means. They urged the Supreme Court to dispense justice without succumbing to distractions and attempts at blackmail, emphasizing the need to sanitize the electoral system and build a strong democratic foundation.
