Opposition parties, others hail Ganduje’s tribunal victory

Kolade Adeyemi, Kano

A few days after President Muhammadu Buhari sent a congratulatory message to Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on his victory at the Election Petition Tribunal, over 50 opposition parties and many civil society organisations, under the aegis of All Parties and Civil Associations Platform (APCAP), have congratulated the governor.

In a letter sent to Ganduje dated October 4, 2019 and signed by Chief Benjamin Dogo and Bello Kwalla, the amalgamation of the opposition parties and some civil society organisations said: “What transpired is but a clear victory for democracy, as described by our dear President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Acknowledging that the defeated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abba Kabir Yusuf, has every constitutional right to appeal the judgment, the group said: “Your victory is predicated on clear and objective display of professionalism in the dispensation of justice. So appeal or no appeal, the situation will remain so till 2023.”

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The group told the governor that it was categorical for any discerning mind, and not necessarily a legal person, to understand right during PDP’s submission of witnesses that the case was another avenue to show to Nigerians how transparent the election was.

This, according to them, “proves to us how confused, unprepared and unorganised Governor Ganduje’s detractors could be. This judgment alone is a pointer to you (Governor Ganduje) all-embracing attitude towards your opponents; because after the judgment, your major concern was to reiterate your stand for safer, healthier and peaceful Kano.”

Another part of the letter said PDP’s appeal could further expose the weaknesses of the opposition party, which they believed could further move the party (PDP) into hopelessness and ‘planlessness’ in the 2023 general election.

“As an amalgamation of many opposition parties and civil society organisations that were visible and active during the governorship election, as election observers, we believe that PDP’s next move, by way of appealing the judgment, is nothing but a waste of time, energy and resources, which will further disintegrate the party at all levels, particularly in Kano State,” the letter said.