Politics

NNPP Holds Kwankwaso Liable as Tribunal Sacks Kano Gov

By Nurat Uthman

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has accused Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former presidential candidate of the party, of being responsible for the defeat of Yusuf Abba, the Kano governor, at the State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.

The party claims that Kwankwaso betrayed the NNPP by allegedly selling out to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in exchange for a ministerial position in the government led by President Bola Tinubu.

The tribunal, on Wednesday, removed Abba from office and declared Nasir Gawuna, the APC candidate, as the winner of the governorship election held on March 18.

The panel, led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, also invalidated the Certificate of Return presented to Yusuf by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The panel stated that the margin of votes obtained by the NNPP was invalid and did not comply with the 2022 electoral act. They deducted 165,663 votes from the NNPP, as the ballot papers were not stamped or signed, rendering them invalid.

In response, Alhaji Abass Akande Onilewura, a prominent member of the NNPP in the Southwest, released a statement on Thursday, blaming Kwankwaso for the party’s loss in Kano.

Onilewura claimed that Kwankwaso’s alleged involvement in anti-party activities led to the significant defeat suffered by the party due to the tribunal’s ruling.

Onilewura emphasized that Kwankwaso did not follow the proper process in selecting some of the party’s governorship candidates, resulting in the nomination of unpopular or unacceptable candidates. He accused Kwankwaso of selfishness and claimed that he sold the party to the highest bidder.

Furthermore, Onilewura stated that Kwankwaso’s engagement with the APC allowed them to exploit weaknesses that were later used against the Kano governor, resulting in victory for the opposition.

He expressed disappointment that their hard work to build the NNPP had been wasted by someone like Kwankwaso.

We are happy that someone like that has been expelled from this great party.

“We also want to use the avenue to warn him to stay clear of NNPP, we don’t want a betrayal in our party and we would do anything humanly possible to secure our party from hijackers who are more concerned about personal gain.

“I will also urge our members across the country to remain calm because a new leadership has taken over the party and we would do everything to restore the glory of our party. NNPP will come out to become a strong voice and opposition that would stand for justice, equity, and good governance.”

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