Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has called on lawyers to uphold the rule of law and help ensure a transparent, peaceful and credible democratic process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor made the call while declaring open the Second Annual Summit of the Arewa Young Lawyers’ on Thursday.

His remarks were contained in a statement issued on Thursday by his spokesperson and Director General, Media and Publicity, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.

Addressing young lawyers from across Northern Nigeria, Governor Yusuf said legal professionals have a constitutional responsibility to protect the country’s democracy, especially during elections.

According to him, the conduct of lawyers before, during and after elections, particularly in election-related court cases, will play a major role in shaping public confidence in the judiciary.

“The legal community plays an indispensable role in safeguarding the integrity of our democracy,” the governor said.

“We must ensure that justice prevails without compromise during political disputes so that our democratic institutions can be strengthened rather than weakened.”

On justice sector reforms, Governor Yusuf said his administration has expanded the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) to reduce delays in the court system and improve access to justice.

He urged members of the legal profession to remain committed to fairness, justice and the rule of law as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.

Former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has hinted that the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his party are giving President Bola Tinubu sleepless nights.

Tambuwal claimed that Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress have been scheming against the ADC but God has been frustrating their plans.

He spoke while welcoming the former Chairman of Tangaza Local Government Area, Isa Salihu Bashir Kalanjeni, into the ADC after he resigned from the APC, where he described Tinubu as an outgoing president.

Tambuwal said: “President Bola Tinubu, who is leaving office, has been staying up late because of the ADC. Everywhere he turns, he sees Atiku Abubakar.

“They have kept trying to stop the ADC from being made public, but God has prevented those plans from working.”

He said the federal government hasn’t done enough to deal with the unsafe situation and other problems the country is facing.

Tambuwal said that many politicians didn’t want to join the ADC because they were worried about the pressure of leaving the ruling party.

“Most politicians who leave the ruling APC join other political parties instead of joining the ADC.

“Only people who care about the country’s interests, not their own, will join the ADC,” he said.

The Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli, has urged Nigeria to adopt electronic voting machines for all elections, saying technology will make the electoral process more transparent, credible and efficient.

He made the call on Thursday in Kaduna during the launch of the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) Five-Year Strategic Plan (2026–2030).

The traditional ruler said Nigeria should move away from manual voting.

“I am still one of those Nigerians that believe Nigeria needs to move forward. As against manual election, electronic voting machine should be used in every election in Nigeria.”

Bamalli, who previously served as a commissioner at KAD-SIECOM, said his support for electronic voting is based on experience.

He said during his study visits to China, Brazil and the United States, he observed how electronic voting systems work.

According to him, the Kaduna delegation visited Shenzhen in China, where the machines were produced, before watching elections conducted with the technology in Brazil and the US.

He also said Kaduna successfully used electronic voting machines during his time at the commission, allowing voting and result collation to be completed within a few hours.

The emir explained that the system helps prevent manipulation because votes are stored electronically at the commission’s headquarters while printed results are immediately given to party agents at polling units.

“So I’m still appealing that SIECOM should look at that. It’s a colossal investment, and should champion it.”

Speaking at the event, KAD-SIECOM Chairman Hajara Mohammed said the commission’s new five-year strategic plan was intended to improve its performance, strengthen public confidence and ensure credible elections.

She said the plan addresses key issues affecting election management, including voter apathy, logistics, legal reforms and efforts to build greater trust in the electoral process.