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PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #1626/01 2081226
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 271226Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0437
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 0484
RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 7511
RUEHCD/AMCONSUL CIUDAD JUAREZ 0479
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 001626 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM KISL KJUS NI
SUBJECT: JULY 2007: NORTHERN NIGERIA POLITICAL TIDBITS 
 
REF: A. ABUJA 1440 
     ¶B. 06 ABUJA 2135 
 
ABUJA 00001626  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR INTERNET 
DISTRIBUTION. 
 
¶1.  (U) This cable is a roundup of recent political 
developments across northern Nigeria. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION TRIBUNAL UPDATE 
--------------------------------------------- - 
¶2.  (SBU) As noted in Ref. A, election tribunals across the 
country have gotten off to a rocky start.  Substantive trials 
have yet to begin in most cases.  One trend emerging is for 
aggrieved candidates to relinquish redress through the 
tribunal process in exchange for state cabinet-level 
appointments in newly formed "unity government" coalitions. 
Following is a summary of election tribunal developments in 
the North. 
 
¶3.  (U) BORNO STATE: On July 23, Justice Reuben Nwajiobi 
struck out the petition filed by AC gubernatorial aspirant 
Mohammed Kumalia, claiming that the petition had been filed 
after the deadline.  (NOTE: The 2006 Electoral Act states 
that an election petition must be presented within thirty 
days from the announcement of election results, however, the 
Act does not qualify whether these days may be calendar or 
business days.  END NOTE.)  Kumalia's legal counsel sent a 
protest letter to the President of the federal Court of 
Appeal decrying the Borno tribunal as compromised and 
claiming that the tribunal's justices were being granted 
"special favors" from the Borno state government.  Kumalia 
filed an appeal of the tribunal's ruling at the federal Court 
of Appeal on July 27.  Also in Borno state, PDP gubernatorial 
candidate Kashim Imam withdrew his petition challenging 
Governor Ali Modu Sheriff (ANPP). 
 
¶4.  (U) PLATEAU STATE: On July 24, the pre-hearing phase of 
Pam Gyang's (AC) petition challenging Governor Jonah Jang 
(PDP) was adjourned after 10 minutes.  When the pre-hearing 
resumes on August 7, the tribunal will entertain the PDP's 
preliminary objections to the petition, including its 
contention that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction to hear the 
petition as it was filed after the deadline. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) KATSINA STATE: The State Election Tribunal on July 
24 dismissed the suit against Governor Ibrahim Shema (PDP) 
filed by Mohammed Nur Khalil (ANPP).  The tribunal ruled that 
Khalil had no legal capacity (locus standi) to institute the 
case since his name never appeared on the April 14 ballots. 
Although Khalil secured the ANPP nomination during the 
party's December primaries, Abu Ibrahim replaced Khalil as 
the ANPP's gubernatorial choice just ahead of elections ) 
reportedly due to Khalil's falling out with ANPP leadership, 
including Buhari. 
 
¶6.  (U) KOGI STATE: The State Election Tribunal has fixed 
August 13 to begin hearing the case brought by ANPP 
gubernatorial candidate Prince Abubakar Audu. 
 
¶7.  (U) ZAMFARA STATE: On July 17, the State Election 
Tribunal dismissed the petition of gubernatorial candidate 
Lawali Shu'aibi (DPP) on grounds that his case lacked merit; 
Shu'aibi filed for appeal on July 23.  The Zamfara tribunal 
began hearing preliminary arguments from gubernatorial 
candidate Yahaya Adbulkarim (PDP) on July 23. 
 
¶8.  (U) GOMBE STATE: DPP gubernatorial aspirant Abubakar 
Hashidu's petition before the State Election Tribunal 
challenging Governor Danjuma Goje (PDP) commenced the 
pre-trial hearing on July 16. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) YOBE STATE: On July 26, the State Election Tribunal 
jettisoned petitions filed by gubernatorial hopefuls Usman 
Albishir (ANPP) and Adamu Maina Waziri (PDP).  The tribunal 
ruled that neither Albishir nor Waziri possessed the legal 
capacity to challenge the election of Governor Mamman Ali 
(ANPP).  Albishir's challenge to Governor Ali, a member of 
his own party, emanates from Albishir's falling out with ANPP 
 
ABUJA 00001626  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
leaders in the run up to April 14. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
KANO HISBAH TO ENFORCE SHARIA IN CHRISTIAN AREAS 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
¶10.  (U) BBC News and Nigerian press on July 24 reported that 
the Kano hisbah authority (commonly known as the Sharia 
police) will begin strict enforcement of Sharia in the Sabon 
Gari area of Kano metropolis.  This Day claims that the 
hisbah has destroyed 6,000 cartons of beer smuggled into the 
state and will commence raids at some "pleasure spots" and 
close all beer parlors, chalets, and night clubs in Sabon 
Gari. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) In discussions with PolOff on July 26 Muzzamil 
Sani Hanga, member of the Kano Sharia Implementation Council, 
dismissed the stories as "factually inaccurate and 
sensationalized," contending that the mandate of the hisbah 
does not encompass enforcement of Sharia except in civic 
matters (Ref. B) and only in Muslim areas.  Hanga stated that 
the story is a "big misunderstanding" contrived by 
"over-zealous" correspondents who have exaggerated statements 
posted to the Internet made by the Director of the Kano 
Hisbah Board.  The statements, Hanga insists, were meant to 
elucidate the functions of the hisbah - a cadre of young, 
educated (secondary school certificate at minimum) males who 
serve as traffic wardens, regulate commercial activity in the 
marketplace, resolve disputes through "people's courts", and 
visit the infirmed in hospitals. 
 
¶12.  (U) In 2000, Kano joined Zamfara state in criminalizing 
the consumption and possession of alcohol.  Three years 
later, Kano State government enacted into law the creation of 
the Kano Hisbah Board, whose principal function was to 
enforce aspects of the Sharia in society.  The Government of 
Nigeria (GON) proscribed the establishment of the hisbah in 
2003, alleging that Kano State government was attempting to 
create a parallel security force and accusing the hisbah of 
receiving funding and terrorist training from foreign 
governments.  In February 2006, the Kano State government 
challenged the GON's hisbah ban before the Nigerian Supreme 
Court, which struck out the case in March 2007. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) COMMENT:  Rumors and sensationalized news are 
commonplace in Nigeria.  Post has been unable to 
independently confirm reports of the hisbah targeting 
"pleasure spots" in Sabon Gari ("New Settlement"), which in 
fact is populated by non-indigene Muslims and non-Muslims 
including Lebanese, Sudanese, Libyans, and Indians and 
contacts in the area confirm that bars and restaurants that 
serve alcohol remain operational. 
 
¶14.  (SBU) COMMENT CONT'D: The introduction of the hisbah 
throughout the North sparked controversy at the federal level 
in Nigeria and among diverse sectors of Nigerian society, 
many of whom feared the hisbah would restrict religious 
freedoms.  In the North, the establishment of the hisbah was 
heralded as a tangible step towards bringing society back in 
line with Islamic values.  The enforcement of Sharia has been 
criticized for targeting the indigent and downtrodden, while 
ignoring the wealthy and powerful.  To be sure, as a 
commercial center Kano cannot survive without its many 
Yoruba, Igbo, and other Christian businessmen.  Cognizant of 
the tense, at times hostile, state of Christian-Muslim 
relations as well as the history of inter-communal violence 
in Kano, the state government has made several overtures over 
the past few years indicating its commitment to 
reconciliation with and not to alienation of the sizeable, 
economically-powerful Christian segment of Kano society.  END 
COMMENT. 
GRIBBIN