The presidential running mate to Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in the 2027 elections, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has alleged that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is plotting to disqualify NDC governorship candidates in the state through secret legal manoeuvres involving the courts and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Kwankwaso, while briefing newsmen in Kano, claimed that the governor was attempting to cover up an earlier mistake by preventing the emergence of governorship candidates in the state.
According to him, “The initial plan was to get INEC to declare that Kano had no governorship candidate, but when the alleged move failed, those behind it resorted to legal action.”
He also alleged that the case was secretly instituted against the party and INEC without the knowledge of the affected candidate, saying they schemed, met secretly, and under the cover of darkness went to court here in Kano.
He added that they filed the case against the party and INEC, alleging that they deliberately hid it from the candidate himself so that he would not even hear about it until a judgment had been delivered.
The former governor believed that his candidates had no constitutional impediments relating to age, educational qualifications or other requirements that could justify their disqualification by INEC or the courts.
He further alleged that associates of Governor Yusuf had sent lawyers to Kano to institute another case, accusing them of failing to understand the political influence and significance of the Kwankwasiyya movement, arguing that occupying the office of governor did not automatically guarantee electoral victory.
The presidential running mate warned public office holders against assuming that political power made them untouchable, cautioning against what he described as arrogance of power, as those in public office often forget that their authority comes from the people.
Kwankwaso said the current political developments reminded him of events surrounding Governor Yusuf’s previous electoral experience in the 2019 Kano governorship election.
He urged his supporters not to be discouraged by the unfolding legal and political developments, advising them to verify their voter cards and sustain their political activities.
