The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State has rejected the outcome of the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Assembly re-run election, alleging manipulation and collusion between politicians and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Briefing newsmen, the state chairman, Comrade Hashimu Sulaiman Dungurawa, accused INEC of “denying electorates their rights” after declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate winner of the poll.
The NNPP said the election was meant to be held in 10 polling units that were nullified by the Court of Appeal, but claimed INEC cancelled results from those units and reverted to the earlier results already faulted by the court.
“In Ghari Local Government, the re-run was conducted peacefully at the 10 polling units, but through manipulation by some unpatriotic politicians who connived with INEC officials, the APC candidate was declared winner,” the party said.
It further faulted INEC for declaring the result at its state headquarters in Kano rather than at the constituency collation centre, alleging this gave room for manipulation.
The NNPP vowed to continue resisting what it described as injustice, favoritism, and electoral fraud, insisting that presiding officers at the polling units had already signed results that should have been upheld.
However, the party commended the conduct of the Shanono/Bagwai bye-election, where its candidate was declared winner, describing the process as credible. It praised security agencies for providing an enabling environment and lauded voters for turning out massively.
“We salute the courage of our people who stood with us and voted for the NNPP candidates in all the re-run and bye-elections,” he added.
INEC and the opposition are yet to react to the development.
