The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has dismissed allegations by former Kano State Governor and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over the alleged omission of the New Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate’s name from the list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The ruling party described the allegation as unfounded, insisting that the claims were politically motivated and intended to create unnecessary controversy ahead of the forthcoming elections.
Kwankwaso had reportedly raised concerns over the absence of the NDC governorship candidate’s name, questioning the circumstances surrounding the development and suggesting that the situation could raise concerns about the credibility of the electoral process.
However, the Kano APC rejected the allegation, maintaining that the former governor’s comments were misleading and did not reflect the actual situation.
In a statement issued by the Kano State APC Chairman, Umar Haruna-Doguwa, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, the party maintained that the legal dispute originated from internal disagreements within the NDC.
According to the APC, the case was instituted by members of the NDC against their own party and had nothing to do with the ruling party, Governor Yusuf or the Kano State Government.
The party argued that attempts to link it to the legal proceedings were misleading and appeared designed to divert public attention from the internal challenges confronting the opposition party.
Haruna-Doguwa further insisted that the APC neither sponsored nor influenced the court action against Gwarzo, stressing that the party had no involvement in the process that led to the candidate’s absence from the INEC list.
He also emphasised that the judiciary remained an independent arm of government, adding that neither the APC nor its governorship candidate had the authority to dictate court proceedings or influence judicial decisions.
The APC chairman challenged Kwankwaso to provide credible and verifiable evidence to support his allegations, rather than making claims capable of misleading the public and creating unnecessary political tension.
He described the accusation as an attempt at political blackmail, particularly given Kwankwaso’s position as the vice-presidential candidate of the NDC.
APC Reaffirms Commitment to 2027 Elections
The ruling party also reaffirmed its commitment to democratic principles, insisting that it had no reason to prevent opposition parties from participating in the 2027 general elections.
Haruna-Doguwa maintained that every eligible candidate had a constitutional right to contest elections in accordance with the law, adding that the APC welcomed healthy political competition.
He urged political actors to allow relevant institutions to carry out their constitutional responsibilities without turning internal party disagreements into allegations of political persecution.
The party consequently called on members of the public to disregard claims linking Governor Yusuf and the APC to the legal battle involving the NDC governorship candidate.
Controversy Over NDC Candidate’s Exclusion
The development has triggered accusations, counter-accusations and demands for clarification over the circumstances surrounding their exclusion.
Meanwhile, the NDC has maintained that its candidates should be allowed to participate in the electoral process, while the APC insists that the matter is connected to the opposition party’s internal disputes and should be resolved through the appropriate legal channels.
As political activities gradually intensify ahead of the 2027 elections, the dispute is expected to remain an important issue in Kano’s political landscape