From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The All Progressive Congress (APC) has accused the opposition New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) of plots to instigate violence during Saturday’s gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections in the state.
The ruling party said it has evidences that the NNPP has allegedly hired thugs from villages and outside Kano with the intention of disrupting the election and designing it to end “inclusive.”
A Statement released to Journalists in Kano on Monday by the spokesperson of Gawuna/Garo Campaign Council, Malam Muhammad Garba stated that, “we won’t allow NNPP perpetrate violence, rig elections in Kano.”
Malam Garba who is also the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Kano State, further stated that: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state has vowed to check any attempt by the opposition New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to manage any form of electoral malfeasance during the forthcoming gubernatorial and state assembly elections that could lead to defeat of the ruling party or declaration of the election as inconclusive.”
He said, “the APC was compelled to bring the plan to the attention of the public because this could disrupt the governorship and House of Assembly elections to its favour.”
According to him, “government has received credible information on how thugs will be hired from villages in Kano and beyond to upset the electoral process through violence, massive rigging, box snatching and arson.”
Malam Garba recalled that in 2019, “the opposition managed a well-organized election rigging network, particularly in the metropolitan local governments, where youths, mostly without voter cards, were engaged to perpetrate the act.”
The Commissioner alleged that, “this time around, the NNPP was planning to bring chaos through the use of thugs to cause mayhem with a view to dispersing voters at polling units in order to have the opportunity to rig the elections and subvert the will of the people.”
He further alleged that, “the statement issued by the opposition in the state was just playing the victim card, but had perfected their nefarious plans to ensure that they disrupt the electoral process and deploy maximum violence.”
While assuring that the APC would ensure that peace prevail in the state, Malam Garba called on relevant security agencies, “to be alive to their responsibility by fishing out any individual or group bent on fomenting trouble to deny people exercise their franchise.”
