In a recent revelation, former Kano State Governor and current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, disclosed the strategic mistakes that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, made during the lead-up to the March 18 governorship election.
Following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of Yusuf as the winner, the APC contested the result at the State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. The tribunal, in a significant ruling, voided 165,663 votes for Yusuf, citing unsigned or unstamped ballot papers. Consequently, Yusuf’s votes were reduced, and Nasir Ganuwa of the APC was declared the authentic winner.
The APC’s success continued at the Appeal Court, which upheld the tribunal’s decision. Reacting to this outcome, Ganduje, in an interaction with party supporters in Kano, emphasized that the APC strategically exploited the mistakes made by Yusuf, Kwankwaso, and the NNPP.
Ganduje pointed out that Yusuf and Kwankwaso’s switch from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to NNPP in 2022 overlooked INEC’s closed acceptance of nomination forms. He highlighted their desperation for a platform, emphasizing that they failed to recognize the INEC lacuna.
“They did not know that we laid in wait. We took the file, submitted it to Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gwuna and told him to hold it tight,” Ganduje stated. The former governor revealed that during the tribunal proceedings, they informed the court that Yusuf and Kwankwaso were not officially fielded by the NNPP, emphasizing that they joined the party after INEC closed the submission of nomination forms.
Ganduje’s remarks shed light on the political intricacies and strategic maneuvers employed by the APC in challenging the election results, underscoring the importance of attention to electoral timelines and procedures.
