The tribunal's initial decision, which declared a substantial number of Yusuf's votes invalid, centered around the contention that they lacked the necessary signatures or stamps from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Consequently, the governor's votes were reduced to 853,939, while his All Progressives Congress (APC) rival, Nasir Ganuwa, retained 890,705 votes.

Governor Yusuf, who contested under the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), vehemently opposed the tribunal's decision, denouncing it as "unfair" and "a miscarriage of justice." Taking the matter to the Court of Appeal, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, the lead counsel for Yusuf, requested that the tribunal's judgment be set aside.

Olanipekun argued that the annulment of an election based on the non-signing of the back of ballot papers was unprecedented in electoral history. He further contended that it was the first instance where a political party filed a petition without including its candidate as a party, and yet, the candidate was declared the winner.

On the other side, Akin Olujimi SAN, representing the APC, countered Olanipekun's arguments, emphasizing that the Appeal Court had unequivocally stated that the absence of signatures on ballots constituted electoral malpractice.

As this legal saga unfolds, the political future of Kano State hangs in the balance, awaiting the resolution of this complex and contentious case. The Court of Appeal's decision adds another layer of intricacy to the evolving narrative, leaving stakeholders and the public eager for the next chapter in this unfolding political drama.