Alleged Bribes: Ganduje Remains Our Kano Governorship Candidate – APC
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – In spite of the controversy trailing the trending videos of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State showing him collecting dollars as kickbacks from contractors, the national leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC), said it would not substitute his name for the 2019 governorship election.
An online newspaper, Daily Nigerian some weeks ago, released video footages captured with a spy camera showing Governor Ganduje receiving $5m bribe from a contractor.
On whether the embattled Governor will eventually be dropped as APC’s Kano gubernatorial candidate in view of published video clips, National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, told PRNigeria that Ganduje remains the standard bearer of APC in next year’s governorship election.
Issa-Onilu explained that the party lacks the power to change or arbitrarily substitute a bona fide candidate, adding that the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on the selection or replacement of candidates are explicit.
In his words; “It doesn’t confer power on political parties to whimsically, arbitrarily or recklessly just substitute a candidate on frivolous grounds. It is only when a candidate dies, voluntarily withdraws from contesting an election, or a court pronouncement that a candidate can then be substituted or replaced, if you like.
“So as things stand, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, regardless of the unfortunate development is and still remains APC’s Kano guber candidate. Don’t forget that the governor has sued the publisher of the online media for defamation of character.”
