From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The immediate-past Caretaker chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kano, Prince Abdullahi Abbas was on Saturday, returned unopposed as the new chairman of the party in the state during the party State congress held at the Indoor Sports Hall of Sani Abacha stadium.
The Returning Officer, Bar. Auwal Abdullahi declared Abbas who contested unopposed as the new chairman of the party alongside other elected officers.
The AUTHORITY reports that over 3,320 delegates from across the 44 Local Government Area of the state gathered at Sani Abacha Stadium Indoor Sports Hall to participate in the exercise which was peaceful.
Speaking shortly after casting his vote, Ganduje stated that, “here at Indoor Sports Hal, Sani Abacha Stadium, 3,320 delegates of our great party, the APC have assembled to elect officials that will run the affairs of the party.
“This is authentic gathering, so anywhere in the state, where this type of gathering is taking place must be regarded as illegal.”
Also speaking at the venue of the congress, Kano state Commissioner of Rural and Community Development, Dr. Ilyasu Musa Kwankwaso, said the Congress was peaceful, “and the outcome will be rasncour-free .
“We are one family. We believe in the peaceful conduct of election because our party is built on peace and unity.”
According to him, “the election was held with genuine representatives from Abuja who came to supervise the election. As you can see all the people that matters in our great party are here to participate in the exercise.”
The AUTHORITY reports that the Congress turned into a fanfare when Governor Ganduje arrived the venue as thousands of party supporters who lined up along the stadium road rolled out drums singing praises to impress the Governor.
However, the surging, but peaceful crowd were put under control by security agencies who keenly screened delegates and other participants, apparently to avoid any form of breach of the peace.
The exercise which lasted for several hours was peaceful and rancour-free as there were no report of violent clashes as at the time of filling this report.
There were, however, reports that a group loyal to the former Governor of the state, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau held another congress somewhere in the state.
