The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has rejected the results of the recent re-run election in the Tsanyawa/Ghari State Constituency of Kano State, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of manipulating the outcome.
The re-run, which was conducted following a court order, saw the APC candidate declared winner by INEC. However, the NNPP insists the process was flawed and that it would challenge the result in court.
Speaking at a press conference in Kano, the NNPP State Chairman, Hashimu Suleiman Dungurawa, described the election as a “sham” and said it failed to reflect the will of the people.
According to him, “The leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State has acknowledged the tremendous achievements recorded by the party in the just concluded re-run and by-elections in Tsanyawa/Ghari and Shanono/Bagwai constituencies.
“While we commend the good people of both constituencies for coming out to vote, we must make it clear that what happened in Tsanyawa/Ghari cannot be accepted. The election was clearly manipulated against our candidate.”
The Tsanyawa/Ghari re-run was conducted in 10 polling units as directed by the Appeal Court, which had earlier nullified the results from these units and ordered fresh voting.
Dungurawa claimed that despite a peaceful and credible election in those polling units, INEC officials and some politicians allegedly colluded to undermine the process and declare the APC candidate as the winner.
“In Ghari Local Government Area, the re-run was conducted peacefully. People came out in large numbers and voted for the NNPP. But some unpatriotic politicians, in collaboration with INEC officials, reversed the will of the people,” he said.
He further criticized INEC for announcing the election result at its state headquarters in Kano, rather than at the collation centre within the constituency, as required by law and standard procedure.
“Normally, election results are to be declared at the constituency’s collation centre. But in this case, INEC announced the results from their office in Kano. This gave room for manipulation. They cancelled all the re-run units and reverted to the old results, which had already been nullified by the court,” Dungurawa alleged.
He said the NNPP had proof that the presiding officers at the 10 affected polling units signed the results, affirming that the NNPP won. According to electoral guidelines, only presiding officers can cancel results at the polling unit level not officials at INEC headquarters.
“The truth is that the people voted for NNPP. The results were signed. We have all the evidence. What INEC did was simply disregard the re-run and use old results that were already declared invalid by the court,” he said.
He assured supporters that the party would seek legal redress to ensure justice is served. “We are heading to court. We will not allow this injustice to stand. We will continue to fight against election manipulation, intimidation, and the misuse of federal might to suppress the will of Kano people.”
In contrast, Dungurawa praised the peaceful conduct of the Shanono/Bagwai by-election, where results were declared at the appropriate collation centres. He said if not for that, a similar attempt at manipulation might have occurred.
“We appreciate the fact that results in Shanono/Bagwai were declared at collation centres. That’s what stopped those who wanted to rig from succeeding. It proves that when processes are followed, democracy works,” he said.
Dungurawa also thanked the people of Kano, particularly those in the two affected constituencies, for their support and peaceful conduct during the elections. He also commended security agencies for providing a peaceful atmosphere that enabled people to vote without fear.
“We thank the constituents for their loyalty and patience. We also thank the security agencies who ensured peaceful voting. But peace must be backed by fairness, and that is what we demand,” he added.
The NNPP, which currently controls the Kano State Government under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, has been engaged in intense political rivalry with the APC, which holds power at the federal level under President Bola Tinubu.
Kano State has been a major battleground for both parties, with closely contested elections and multiple legal disputes over results since 2023.
This latest controversy adds to the growing tension in Kano’s political landscape, and observers are watching closely to see how the court will rule on the NNPP’s planned challenge.
INEC and the APC have not issued official responses to the NNPP’s allegations as of press time. However, sources within the APC say the party is confident the declared results reflect the true outcome of the polls.
