THE New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State has accused the Department of State Security (DSS) of intimidation ahead of the Saturday, March 18 governorship election.
The party said the DSS was intimidating and arresting its members in a bid to undermine its chances in the governorship poll.
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The NNPP flagbearer for the Kano North Senatorial seat in the just concluded election, Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, made the allegation while addressing journalists in Kano on Thursday, March 16.
Bichi said the DSS Director in Kano State Alhasan Muhammad was due for retirement 15 years ago but was kept in Kano at the behest of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to assist the All Progressives Congress (APC) in winning the governorship election.
He said the NNPP had shelved its earlier decision to stage a protest against the director.
Bichi accused the Kano state governor of using the DSS director in 2019 to subvert the will of the people.
“But as law-abiding, patriotic and peaceful people and responsible citizens, and having received a letter from the police notifying us of that all rallies and processions and protests should be put on hold, we have agreed to do so.
“We are putting the protest on hold because higher authorities from Abuja have reached out to our party and assured us that all necessary steps have been taken to address our grievances,” he added.
He added that the party had information that the DSS had made plans to use some youths to penetrate the Party and cause a breach of peace during the protest.
“So to change it, they need to bring in tactical teams. They are been given assignments to go and cause trouble there. Those teams are in Kano and been kept in the hotel and what they called safe houses.
“They (tactical team) are going to do nothing but to subvert the will of the people. We have raised alarm about this, and we have written to the Commander in Chief over this. But we know that they can not change the will of God, and we know that a people united can never be defeated.
“Kano people are United, and our unity is our strength; they cannot defeat a united Kano people, united NNPP,” Bichi said.
He insisted that Muhammad was due for retirement and called on all authorities concerned to save the state from what he termed machinations and mischief of the DSS director.
Attempts to speak to Muhammad were unsuccessful as he did not pick up his call nor respond to messages sent to his phone.
A reporter with the ICIR
A Journalist with a niche for quality and a promoter of good governance