The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has taken its matter to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), United Kingdom, European Union (EU) and United States concerning the recent Appeal Court judgement which affirmed the earlier verdict of the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sacking its candidate and declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mohammed Gawuna, as winner of the March 18 governorship election in the State.
The NNPP alerted the regional blocs and countries of the danger that lies ahead not only in Kano but also in far flung areas if the mandate given to it and its candidate, Kabir Yusuf, is taken away.
The leadership of the party – the National Auditor of the NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, made known while reading a statement signed by the acting National Chairman of the party, Abba Kawu Ali, at the offices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), European Union, American Embassy and British High Commission, on Wednesday in protest over the verdicts of the Kano governorship election at the Tribunal and Appeal Court.
He alleged that there were clandestine moves to truncate the will of the vast majority of the people of Kano State with respect to the Governor the people freely elected on March 18, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
He warned that the atmosphere in Kano was already charged as the people felt cheated.
NNPP therefore called on concerned stakeholders including Vice President Kashim Shettima, Northern Governors Forum, Northern Senators Forum, Northern House of Representatives Forum, Northern Conference of Speakers, Northern Elders Forum, Northern Christian Association, and the Council of Ulamas from the 19 Northern States, to also draw the attention of the President and the Supreme Court to ensure substantial justice is delivered to NNPP and the Kano people.
According to him, the party was not taking the developments with the certified true copy of the Appeal Court judgment lightly.
NNPP declared it “will do anything within the ambit of the law to take what the entire world knows is ours.”
“While the NNPP has proceeded to the Supreme Court to seek redress, we are concerned with the peace and stability of Kano State in particular and Northern Nigeria, in general. We, therefore, urge the Supreme Court to embrace substantial justice by restoring the mandate of the people of Kano State and His Excellency, Abba Kabir Yusif.
“As we head towards this next level of adjudication, which of course is the final, there is palpable tension in Kano. The city’s atmosphere is enveloped in anger, with a sense of shock and agony pervading every discussion on the streets, offices and homes. To say that there is a combustible mix of provocation and betrayal welling up in the minds of the citizens of Kano is an understatement. The people are bitter, enraged, exasperated and fuming with fury. The security situation today in Kano State has become unprecedented.
“We hasten to put it on record this moment for global leaders that this is an ill-advised move which consequences will reverberate not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa and the whole world. The deliberate hijack of a people’s mandate in Kano will no doubt have consequences politically, economically, and socially especially in light of its humanitarian repercussions,” he said.
