The tribunal had sacked Kano Governor, Abba Yusuf, on September 20 and affirmed the candidate of APC, Nasiru Gawuna, as winner of the contentious March 18 governorship election.
The London demonstration led by a chieftain of the NNPP, Dr Aminu Bello, took place in front of Nigeria’s Embassy.
The eight-man procession converged at the embassy on Sunday morning chanting solidarity songs and displaying different placards that read “Kano must not be robbed”, “Tinubu should allow Justice to prevail in Kano” and “Keep politics out of our courts” among others.
Reacting, some chieftains of the APC under the aegis of National Coalition of APC Progressives Stakeholders described the demonstration as a cheap attempt to blackmail the judiciary, especially on a day the nation is celebrating its 63rd Independence Day anniversary.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Monday, the National Secretary of the coalition, Isabella Odunayo, expressed disappointment that the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement could only find eight willing members to deploy for their protest.
She said, “After failed attempts to discredit the tribunal ruling, the NNPP desperation took them to London where it sponsored a protest to blackmail the Federal Government and discredit the tribunal judgement, unknowingly to the organisers, Nigerians in the diaspora had watched clips of the jubilation that trailed the APC victory at the tribunal thereby Nigerians in London ignored the sponsored protest.
“It is shameful that Abba Yusuf and the Kwankwasiyya Movement only got eight persons for a protest which targeted about one thousand people, a sign that Nigerians both at home and in Diaspora accepted the judgment in good faith. The NNPP should be aware that, the judiciary can not be intimidated by its threat as security agencies in Nigeria are fully prepared to secure the Country. The eight people led by Dr Aminu Bello who embarrassed themselves yesterday in London do not represent the interest of Nigerians.
“It is barbaric and indeed archaic for the NNPP to toe the part of blackmail calling for justice in faraway London when justice has already been served with the judgment of the tribunal. It is unpalatable to speak ill of the judiciary because your stealing antics were uncovered. It is by such actions that some desperate politicians may desist from rigging and instilling violence during elections. But We are optimistic that the Appeal Court judges shall also deliver judgement on its merit.”
