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Tag: Kano Rerun

  • NNPP, APC trade blames over electoral violence, suspension in Kano

    NNPP, APC trade blames over electoral violence, suspension in Kano

    The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano on Saturday traded blames over the disruptions and irregularities that marred the House of Assembly rerun polls.

    The disruptions and irregularities, including the hijacking of electoral materials resulting in violence led to the suspension of the election in Kunchi/Tsanyawa constituency of the State by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    While the NNPP accused the APC of “brutally attacking” its members at some polling units in the affected constituency, the latter said the NNPP allegedly snatched election materials from INEC officials and ran with them.

    Kano Chairman of the NNPP, Hashim Suleiman Dungurawa, in a statement accused APC of perpetrating the violence.

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    “We noticed with dismay, the sporadic attacks on the unsuspecting voters with the aim to disenfranchise them from exercising their civic rights.

    “Since last night, we sighted the deployment of thousands of thugs hired by the APC to distract the election process,” Dr. Dungurawa said.

    The APC secretary Zakari Sarina, in a swift reaction, said no rerun election held in Kano.

    Sarina described the NNPP’s comment as “baseless,” asking the NNPP chairman to bury his head in shame for his “misleading statement.”

    He alleged that NNPP’s hired hoodlums were deployed across the polling units preventing voters legitimate right to vote.

    He said: ”NNPP took over all the entire polling units in Kunchi/Tsanyawa and turned themselves into agents of APC, PDP and even denied INEC the statutory duty because they hijacked the materials and wrote results. Thank God the election has been canceled.”

  • Police arrest dozens of suspected ballot box snatchers in Kano rerun

    Police arrest dozens of suspected ballot box snatchers in Kano rerun

    The Police in Kano on Saturday arrested many suspected ballot box snatchers during the House of Assembly rerun election.

    The apprehended youths were armed with dangerous weapons with the intention of disrupting the elections in Kunchi local government area of the state, police said.

    It was gathered that in Tsanyawa local government area, some youths reportedly snatched ballot boxes during the exercise.

    The rerun election in Kura local government area of the state was however peaceful.

    Security personnel were present in the polling units where the rerun election was held in Kura.

    Turnout was high in all the areas where the election was held peacefully.

    Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Usaini Gumel, who spoke on the arrest of the election disrupters said the thugs, arrested in possession of firearms, were hired by a politician contesting the election.

    “We saw a truck that is faulty by the road side. We saw people in large number by the roadside.

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    “At first, they gave us impression that it was the fuel of the vehicle that got finished. But upon close observation, we saw them in possession of arms.

    “One Abdulrazaq Muhammad aka Mai Salati, from Kano Municipal told us one Gwarmai who is contesting in the area invited them over.

    “We will get the Gwarmai to know if he is truly a candidate contesting and why did he invite them to the area.

    “We suspect they are in the bush to lay ambush on the electoral officers while on their way with the election results,” the police commissioner said.

    Following the disruptions and irregularities, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday suspended the re-run polls in Kunchi/Tsanyawa in Kano State.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education committee,Sam Olumeku, said suspension of the rerun in the affected areas aligns with the provisions of Section 24(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    The electoral commission urged security agencies to investigate the incidents, saying necessary measures for the affected constituencies will be announced after the commission’s meeting on Monday.

  • Ganduje: my victory down to hard work, not violence

    Kano State Governor Umar Ganduje of has reaffirmed his victory at the Kano supplementary elections was as a result of hard work by his team as against violence cited in many quarters.

    Ganduje, who contested under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke when chairmen of the 44 local government areas of the state paid him a congratulatory and solidarity at the Government House, Kano

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Ganduje winner of the rerun polls against his opponent Abba K. Yusuf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “It was not breach of peace that gave (me) the victory but hard work and prayers. We prayed and we worked hard. Peace is paramount,” he said.

    Ganduje urged supporters of the APC not to engage in any form of violence or intimidation of the opposition in the course of their jubilation, saying his government and party are not in conflict with the opposition.

    “We want peace and peace must be given a chance to thrive. We will come up with new strategy in governance. All as an effort to consolidate this victory and continue with the good things we started.

    “We will continue to do what our people voted us for. That is to further develop all structures of the society.

    “This victory shows that Kano people repose confidence in us since from day one. We will, therefore, not let them down,” Ganduje added.

    He also said he would work with other opposition groups that supported him before the elections.

    “We have other opposition parties that came and worked with us before this election. For the development of our state, we are planning to work with them,” he stated.

  • Violence, intimidation, thuggery mar Kano rerun election, says group

    A foreign observer based in South Africa,  Pan African Women Projects has said the supplementary election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in Kano was marred by violence, Intimidation and partisanship on the part of the security operatives as well as voters disenfranchisement.

    publicity secretary of the group, Madam Mphoentle Keitseng at a press conference Tuesday in Kano, revealed that the supplementary election was also characterized by thuggery, abuse of electoral process, chased away of foreign observers and media personnel from gaining access to the polling units.
    According to her, thuggery and voter intimidation were reported in almost all the polling units where the rerun was conducted with cases of loss of lives and other malpractices, under the watch of INEC officials and security agencies pointing that “it is evidence that INEC and security agencies were compromised”.
    ” The observed regulated violence and sponsored thuggery in Nassarawa, Madobi, Dala, Kura, Rimin-Gado and Kibiya local government areas. Women were not found queuing in most polling units we visited. We also observed that the two major political parties APC and PDP tried to undo each other for swift electoral victory, hence the palpable eruption of spontaneous crisis with some loss of human lives.
    The group also observed ” Visible lacuna in our electoral act with regards to the role and responsibilities of the INEC. We call for immediate review of the said act of strengthen the functionalities of the INEC for  effective, responsive and coordinating activities in any type of subsequent election”.
    The group however hailed the umpire for conducting the supplementary election across the nation despite numerous challenges.

  • Kano rerun: Prosecute electoral offenders, observers tell INEC

    The coalition of 18 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) national and international observers has called on INEC to collaborate with the police to investigate electoral offenders and apply measures to sanction any person of group of persons found culpable.

    The leader of the group, Dr. Ibrahim Baba of Center for Intervention who spoke on behalf of others, on Monday in Kano, noted any person or group of persons found to be involved in such electoral offences should be punished to serve as deterrence to others.

    Baba added that following reports of election-related violence and intimidation, the overall political climate in the state during the rerun election remained peaceful and conducive for the conduct of democratic elections.

    According to him: “The collaborative relationship between INEC and Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCS), contributed to the generally peaceful atmosphere in the state.

    Read also: INEC resumes collation of Bauchi governorship poll result

    “We give kudos to the security agencies for maintaining the highest level of professionalism before, during and after the conduct of the supplementary election.”

    The group called on the winners and losers to respect the rule of law and caution their supporters to remain peaceful and law abiding.

    They called on politicians to refrain from disseminating false information and channel their electoral complaints and grievances through established legal processes.

  • Kano rerun: Remain calm, PDP urges supporters

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday in Kano called on its supporters to remain calm and law-abiding as they await the outcome of the election petition tribunal.

    The party through a statement by Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, the spokesman of its governorship candidate, Abba Kabir Yusuf, vehemently rejected the result of the election.

    It said: “The PDP in Kano is proud to be distinctly civil and uniquely peace-loving. We condemn this fraud in its entirety.

    “We have decided to take legal action through the Election Petition Tribunal with overwhelming evidences that has been gathered, and Insha Allah, soonest the mandate of the good people of Kano state shall be reclaimed.

    “However, we urge the good people of Kano state and particularly our teaming supporters to be patient and remain calm. Kano state is our only home.

    “We have no other place better than this noble state and no blood of any citizen is worth shedding.”

    PDP accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies of joining forces to rig the election in favour of the APC.

    “In the political history of Kano, we have undergone the most horrific elections ever where the ruling APC and Kano State Government deployed all mechanisms to orchestrate violence against the citizens.

    “Indeed, the good people of Kano state have witnessed a broad daylight robbery of their mandate by the enemies of democracy. It is with tremendous zeal and courage that we joined the 2019 Kano gubernatorial contest, believing in the impartiality of the umpire – the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies, being on a mission to restore the lost glory of our dear state from the hand of political predators who destroy every meaningful programme and policies set by the previous administration of Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

    “The deliberate disruption of results collation process in Nasarawa Local Government, which led to the cancellation of Gama Ward, alongside numerous other Polling Units across the 28 Local Government Areas and the appalling conduct of the players in the sham called inconclusive Election, has raised huge doubts about the professionalism of the security agencies and the effectiveness, credibility and fairness of INEC as an organization as well as professionalism and neutrality of the security agencies.”

  • Kano supplementary poll license to violence – Obi

    The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 election, Mr Peter Obi, has described last Saturday’s governorship supplementary election in Kano as scandalous and the height of brigandage.

    The conduct of the election, Obi said, was akin to giving official license that could motivate Nigerians into violent acts and thereby destroying the country’s youths.

    In a statement Monday by his media office, Obi said what all democratic watchers saw in Kano state rerun election, amounted to licensing our youths for violence, and setting a very dangerous precedent.

    He said, “We are now institutionalizing thuggery and rigging as process of coming into power, which is very dangerous precedent for our country”.

    The main opposition chieftain added that, “proceeds in the name of results from what happened in Kano make the entire electoral process ridiculous and shameful”.

    Mr Obi wondered how the Nigeria Police, which mobilised its top officers and men to Kano, to secure the state during the election, could watch while political thugs took over control of the process.

    “They owe Nigerians and election observers a lot of explanations on what happened”, Obi said.

    Mr Obi also called to question the integrity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for hurriedly recognising and acknowledging election results from a process “where machetes carrying miscreants took charge of the process”.

    He warned that with the Kano incident, the country is dangerously bequeathing to the society a trend that is bound to consume not only the youths, but also, the entire country.

    The former Anambra state governor declared that country further ridiculed itself and made itself a laughing stock, wondering how would anyone think that the process witnessed in Kano during the said election, could produce leadership that can grow the state.

    Obi, whose party lost the election to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC), described as regrettable the unnecessary loss of quality hands and minds heads to the exercise.

    He cited the case of another election in the same category, where a Professor was shot in Benue State, in the course of performing electoral duties. “It’s most painful”, he said.

    Making reference to India, Obi said if India, with over 800 million voters, can conduct election without losing such “caliber of people”.

    Obi wondered if President Buhari and the APC could come into power in 2015 without such “senseless” loss of lives, then why should it be the case now?

    He prayed God for repose of the souls of the victims and fortitude for the families and relatives.

  • Kano re-run: Police send reinforcement to Gama ward

    The Police Command in Kano State has sent more reinforcement of security personnel to Gama ward of Nasarawa local government to beef up security at the polling units located in the ward.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Abdullahi Haruna, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano.

    He said that the deployment of additional security personnel to the areas followed the visit by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Anthony Micheal, to the area.

    He said that following the report on the security challenges at the area, the DIG visited the ward to assess the security situation there.

    According to him, the deployment of additional security personnel was necessary as part of efforts to enhance security as well as ensure the protection of lives and property in the affected areas.
    “The DIG has visited Gama ward to assess the situation and had since sent more reinforcement to protect lives and property,” he said, adding that the situation had since been brought under control.

    On the alleged arrest of the commissioner for special Duties, Muktar Ishaq, the Police spokesman denied the story, saying “Iam not aware of arrest of any Commissioner”.

  • Kano re-run: Turn out impressive

    Voting commenced early in,Kwanar Tan Darius,Gama Tudu and Gama Sabuwa in Gama B ward at around 8.30am.

    A visit to some of the wards in Nassarawa and Dala local government areas by our reporter, indicated that security was beefed up in all the area that was tagged as a political war zone for the re-run poll.

    The turnout of the poll was generally impressive as voters especially women came out enmess to exercise their civic right.

    Hajiya Hauwa Abubakar and Ali Sani of Gama Suntulma Primary School polling unit said they cast their votes successfully.

    Read Also: Kano re-run: Agents clash over vote-buying

    INEC officials were seen busy accrediting voters and party agents were seen present at the places of the supplementary elections.

    The general mood of the Kano metropolis was peaceful and calm as the public had complied with the directives given by the Nigeria Police in Kano restricting movement from 6am to 6Pm.

    However, party agents clashed at Gama. Wards,with 83 polling units , they were busy soliciting for votes to smart each other.

  • Kano Rerun: Group seeks credible, hitch-free poll

    Few days to the Kano gubernatorial supplementary election, the Centre for Intervention (CFI) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make available all necessary materials needed to ensure credible and hitch-free exercise.

    In a statement signed by CFI Coordinator, Dr. Ibrahim Baba, the group called on INEC to rectify all the anomalies witnessed in the March 11 elections by ensuring that all the materials needed for the rerun election are made available in good time at all the polling units where the rerun will take place.

    “Late arrival of materials and officials to polling unit should be addressed in this rerun more importantly. INEC should ensure that the smart card readers (SCR) are functional because it remains one of the vital aspects of the elections in Nigeria,” the group said.

    READ ALSO: Kano rerun: I‘m sure of victory, says PDP candidate

    The group also called on the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Wakili to ensure neutrality by carrying all parties involved in the election along as to ensure peaceful conduct of the exercise.

    The group lamented perceived bickering between the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed Wakili and the state Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, describing it as unhealthy and uncalled for.

    According to the statement, “we urge the Commissioner of Police to develop much mutual/cordial relationship with the Kano state Governor. The state police Commissioner should cultivate the right attitude to work with the Kano state Governor in order to make sure that the rerun election is free, fair, credible and transparent.”

    They equally urged the supporters of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to play by the rules of the game so as to avoid any action or inaction that can plunge the state into unnecessary violence.

    The group, however, hailed the Chairman of Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC), Bar. Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado for his tireless efforts in fighting the menace of vote-buying, just as the called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to ensure that culprits of vote-buying are prosecuted according to the law.