The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court ruling that challenged the validity of Kano State local government elections conducted in October 2024, affirming that the polls were legally conducted.

Justice Oyewumi, who delivered the judgment on Friday, declared that the Federal High Court in Kano lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), let alone issue a ruling on it.

The APC had initially sought to stop the local government elections through a suit at the Federal High Court, alleging that the Chairman of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, Prof. Sani Malumfashi, and some commissioners were card-carrying members of the ruling New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP).

Although Justice Amobeda of the Federal High Court had ruled in favor of the APC and ordered a halt to the polls, the elections proceeded as scheduled. The Kano State Government subsequently filed an appeal challenging the High Court's decision.

In its ruling, the Appeal Court upheld the appeal filed by the Kano State Government and affirmed the validity of the October 2024 local government elections.

As of the time of filing this report, the APC has yet to respond to the judgment. Attempts by reporters to reach the party's spokesperson, Ahmad Aruwa, were unsuccessful as calls went unanswered.

The ruling represents a significant legal victory for the NNPP-led Kano State Government in the ongoing political tussle over local government administration in the state.