National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has revealed the joker used by the party to nail the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) at the Appeal Court last Friday.
Ganduje said that the NNPP’s desperation to have a governor in Kano State was its greatest undoing as it gave ticket to the sacked governor without noticing that INEC had closed accepting nomination forms.
The immediate past Kano State governor said they (APC) adequately exploited the development in their case and came out victorious.
Ganduje made the revelation while addressing some party supporters.
His words: “They were in PDP and when the crisis heated up and they were punched repeatedly they left the party and started groping for a platform. Unfortunately, they ran into a political party symbolizing fruits. They were given tickets because their leader was daydreaming; their leader was ambitious to be the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but he was frightened.
“And because they desperately wanted a governor in Kano State, the party gave them a ticket to contest. But they made a serious blunder because when they joined the party, INEC had closed submission of nomination forms. But they were blind and uneducated. They went into the ring without making careful observation of this.
“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. When we filed a petition at the Kano governorship election tribunal, we told the court that they were not fielded by the party. We told the court that when INEC closed accepting names of candidates, they did not join the party,”
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Friday, nullified the election of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State.
The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of justices, held that Governor Yusuf was not a valid candidate in the gubernatorial election held in the state on March 18.
It maintained that evidence that was adduced by the parties established that Governor Yusuf was not a member of the NNPP, at the time the election was held.
Basking on the euphoria of last Friday’s victory at the Appeal Court, Kano State gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, announced his mission. He said “our mission is growth and development through improvement of the living standard of residents and citizens of Kano State.”
Gawuna was deputy governor under former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who is now the national chairman of the APC.
Praising God for his victory at the Court of Appeal on Friday, Gawuna said the court only affirmed the truth about the gubernatorial contest between him and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf who has been sacked by the appellate court.
He said: “I wish to appreciate the court of appeal for its verdict which upheld our victory at the election petition tribunal court.
“The affirmation of the truth by the Appeal Court will surely strengthen democracy.
“I want to use the opportunity to commend the judges of both the election tribunal and the court of appeal for standing by the truth to ensure that justice prevailed.
“Both judgements have reaffirmed that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.
“This is a victory for all the residents and citizens of the state, therefore I am seeking the support of everyone irrespective of party affiliation to join hands with me and my running-mate Alh.Murtala Sule Garo in the advancement of Kano.
“I have to thank our amiable leader, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr.Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,the Deputy Senate President Sen.Barau Jibrin and the two ministers from Kano State for their support.
“My appreciation also goes to the hardworking State APC Chairman Alh.Abdullahi Abbas, Party Executives, Members of the National and State Assemblies, Local Government Chairmen and Party stalwarts from ward to state level.
“I wish to commend all the Ulamahs, Business Community,Youths and Women Groups for their solidarity and prayers.
“Our mission is growth and development through improvement of the living standard of the residents and citizens of Kano State.
“I am calling on the residents and citizens of the State to remain calm and continue to be law abiding.”
