By Suleiman Ahmad | Kano | Nigeria News Today
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has rejected the outcome of the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Assembly re-run election held on Saturday, August 16 in Kano State, alleging that the exercise was manipulated in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC) through collusion with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Addressing journalists in Kano on Sunday, NNPP State Chairman, Comrade Hashimu Dungurawa, claimed that INEC had “denied the electorate their rights” by declaring the APC candidate as the winner of the re-run.
According to him, although the re-run — ordered by the Court of Appeal in ten polling units — was conducted peacefully, INEC allegedly cancelled results from the affected units and reverted to earlier figures that were already being challenged in court.
“In Ghari local government, the re-run was conducted peacefully, but through manipulation by some unpatriotic politicians working with INEC officials, the APC candidate was declared winner,” Dungurawa stated.
The party also criticised INEC for announcing the results from its Kano headquarters rather than the constituency’s designated collation centre, describing the move as a deliberate opportunity for manipulation.
Dungurawa noted that the NNPP would resist the alleged injustice, insisting that the signed results by presiding officers should have been adopted and declared.
Meanwhile, the party commended INEC and security agencies for the Shanono/Bagwai by-election, where the NNPP candidate was declared winner, describing that process as credible and peaceful.
“We salute the courage of our people who stood with us and voted for NNPP candidates in all the re-run and by-elections,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC and the APC have not responded to the allegations.
According to official results announced by Returning Officer Professor Muhammad Waziri, APC’s Garba Ya’u Gwarmai won the Ghari/Tsanyawa re-run with 31,472 votes, defeating NNPP’s Yusuf Ali Maigado, who scored 27,931 votes.
For more Nigeria News Today political updates, visit the Politics section of The Bureau News.
