THE Kano State chapter of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the ongoing supplementary gubernatorial election in the state, saying the exercise has been taken over by thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Rabiu Bichi, the Kano PDP Chairman, had on Friday said that the APC had ferried thugs into the state from neighbouring states in order to unleash mayhem on the citizens and rig the election which will hold in 28 out of the 44 local government areas in the state.
Speaking again on Saturday, Bichi said: “What is happening today is not election. Thugs have taken over most polling units and have been attacking our members and voters. Many have been injured, in fact, a member of the state Assembly representing Gwale, Yusuf Babangida on election duty was attacked and seriously injured.
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“We also have reports of attacks on our members in Doguwa, Gwale and Dala, we are collecting the whole list of those attacked. We are going to pursue our right through legal means.
“Today is a sad day for Nigerian democracy, especially in Kano. Recall that governorship elections were held on March 9, not just in Kano but Nigeria as a whole.
“After the election, results from 43 out of 44 local governments were announced and we were leading, it was only the results from Nasarawa local government were pending and that was because the state deputy governor, the commissioner for local government and chairman of Nasarawa local government led some thugs to attack the collation centre and disrupt the process by tearing the result sheet
“That is why INEC called for this supplementary election. As you all know, the Nigerian constitution doesn’t know anything supplementary election; all I know is that we have won our election. What is happening in Kano today is simply foolishness.”
The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Wakil, had assured that the election would be peaceful as enough security personnel had been deployed across the state.
But reports from the state so far have proven otherwise. There have been reports of violence across several polling units in Minjibir and Nasarawa LGAs. Voters were dispersed while journalists carrying out their lawful responsibilities were attacked and their equipment destroyed.
Commissioner arrested
Meanwhile, the Kano State Commissioner for Special Duties, Muktar Yakasai, has been arrested by the police for allegedly leading thugs to disrupt ongoing voting process at Yelwa Secondary School in Dala Local Government Area of the state.
Premium Times reports that though the State police spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna, could not be reached to confirm the development, witnesses said the commissioner was arrested alongside some of the thugs that came with him.