42 Parties Snub Ganduje, Kano Re-run Results
BY SALISU IBRAHIM, KANO – The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in Kano State has rejected results of the March 23 supplementary governorship election and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s declaration of Alhaji Umar Ganduje as the governor-elect
CUPP, an umbrella of 42 political parties, claimed that the process was disgustingly flawed with large-scaled irregularities and voters’ intimidation taking the centre stage.
Speaking at a press conference in Kano on Tuesday, State Chairman of CUPP, Mohammed Abdullahi-Rahi, further alleged that the re-run conducted by the INEC was marred by “violence, over voting, intimidation and general voter disenfranchisement.”
He lamented that the exercise witnessed clear cases of thuggery and voter-coercion in most polling units, with reports of alleged loss of lives, open vote-buying and other electoral malpractices everywhere.
According to him, “It was clear that the level of violence recorded during the March 9 election that led to cancellation of results of some polling units is by far less than what was recorded during the March 23 election, yet the electoral body turned a blind eye on the happenings by accepting and announcing the results.”
In rejecting the results in its entirety, Abdullahi-Rahi said the CUPP is unhappy with INEC for endorsing “the illegitimate declaration of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as governor-elect in the just-concluded March 23 re-run elections in Kano.”
He said given the “gross irregularities and electoral fraud committed before, during and after the elections”, such a declaration is unacceptable as it cannot stand the test of legal scrutiny.
