Embittered by the report that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kano has declared Muhammad Sani Abacha as the recognised governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Sadiq Wali faction of the party has called on INEC to desist from heating up the polity.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano Prof Riskuwa Shehu had last week told newsmen that the commission only recognised the primary elections conducted under its presence and observation.
In a statement by Chairman Media Committee of Wali Campaign Organisation, Malam Shehu Kura, said INEC was only an observer at the primary elections.
It noted that under the Constitution and Electoral Act of 2022, INEC has no power, authority, precedence or role in the nomination process of any political party.
It added that it was only the party that has the absolute power of planning and conducting any nomination urging INEC to resist from usurping the party’s powers in that regard.
The Wali Campaign Organisation also cited a National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna’s statement which declared that INEC is only an observer in the primaries and has no role in nomination process of a party candidate.
Mallam Kura further clarified that Aminu Wali is the PDP nominated candidate for governorship in Kano state adding that Dr Yusuf Bello Danbatta had since been screened by a national committee of the PDP as his running mate.
“It is therefore worrisome for INEC in Kano state, for the third time in less than two months, to try to usurp the powers of PDP in that regards.
“INEC national officials, including a respected and reputable national commissioner in the person of Mohammed Haruna from Niger state, has recently come out to debunk the notion that INEC had any role in the nomination process except as an observer only.
“It is, therefore, disheartening, reckless, and irresponsible for the INEC office in Kano to keep misleading and creating chaos in the election process in the state.
“PDP members and delegates have spoken loudly, and their voices were heard all over the nation when they nominated Alhaji Sadiq Wali as their candidate for governor in the state. A national committee of the party has already screened his running mate, Dr. Yusuf Bello Danbatta for the joint ticket.
“It is, therefore, confusing, unethical and illegal for Kano INEC to continue to raise an old controversy that will overheat the political space in the state”.
