In recent weeks, the political landscape of Kano State has witnessed significant upheaval. On Wednesday, September 20th, the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal made a groundbreaking decision by nullifying the election of Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). In a surprising turn of events, the tribunal declared Nasiru Yusuf-Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 18 governorship election.
Abba Kabir Yusuf had risen to power through the support of the popular group known as Kwankwassiyya, led by its national leader, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State.
Dr. Kwankwaso’s influence and the solid foundation laid by him played a pivotal role in Abba Kabir’s ascent to power.
Ganduje and Kwankwaso have remained arch-political rivals over the control of Nigeria’s unarguably most populated state with a commensurate number of voters, the highest nationwide.
However, the battle for the political control of Kano State in Nigeria’s North-West geopolitical zone between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has been settled with the verdict of the Kano State election petition tribunal has left the NNPP and Kwankwaso’s political prospects in a precarious situation.
Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has emerged as a dominant force in Kano’s political arena, overshadowing their influence. The tribunal’s decision, now headed for appeal to the Supreme Court, has added further uncertainty to the political landscape.
Kwankwaso, has faced confusion and a loss of direction, primarily due to the mounting pressure from Ganduje and the APC during the tribunal proceedings. The real concern lies in the possibility of Governor Abba Kabir’s mandate being nullified.
It is important to note that the NNPP and Abba Kabir seemed to have faltered in adhering to the regulations stipulated in the Electoral Act from the outset. INEC’s acknowledgment of 160,000 unverified votes for NNPP, lacking proper stamps and signatures, underscores this point. Additionally, the recent dismissal of Abba Kabir’s lawsuit against the APC by the Appeal Court has compounded their challenges.
Despite Kwankwaso’s efforts to counter Ganduje’s influence, his alliance with Tinubu appears to be an ineffective strategy in this intricate political landscape.
Inevitably, it appears that the NNPP is at risk of losing Kano to the APC. However, there remains a glimmer of hope for Kwankwaso. Depending on the outcomes of the Presidential Tribunal, he could potentially find a lifeline by aligning with Atiku before it’s too late. Such a strategic move would enable Atiku to assist Kwankwaso in pursuing legal avenues to reclaim his mandate, particularly at the Court of Appeal.
In this complex and critical political scenario, Kwankwaso faces a pivotal choice where duplicity is not a viable option. The decisions made in the coming days will significantly shape the future of Kano’s political landscape.
A. B Muhammad wrote this piece from Kano
