From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The All Progressives Congress (APC), North West zone, under the leadership of Hon Garba Datti Muhammad, has congratulated the party’s guber candidate, Kano State, Dr. Nasir Yusuf Gawuna and his running mate Murtala Sule Garo over their victory at the governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
In a statement on Thursday by the APC Zonal Publicity Secretary (North West), Malam Musa Mailafiya Mada said it was a thing of joy that the party got back its mandate at the tribunal.
The zonal APC however rejected the verdict of the Zamfara State Election Petition Tribunal where the election of the State governor, Lawal Dauda of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was upheld by the tribunal.
The APC called on its candidate, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle to as a matter of urgency approach the appeal court, “where we hope that the error made by the tribunal will be corrected”.
According to the statement, “the Court ruling gave back to good people of Kano State their stolen mandate which was briefly highjacked by some political power mongers residing in an unpopular NNPP, using votes unrecognised by-laws governing the electoral process in this country and inflates figures to gained the so-called 1,019,602, votes, giving the lawful 890,705 votes polled by Dr Nasir Yusuf Gawuna of APC a margin of 128,897.
“The court as the last resort of the common man was satisfied with the facts presented before it by the APC and declared 165,663 ballot papers that were not stamped or signed invalid. A number that exceeds their fictitious margin by 36,766 votes, dropping their actual votes to 853,939 which is insufficient to defeat the lawful vote polled by our candidate Dr. Nasir Yusuf Gawuna.
“The GEPT’s verdict is a clear testimony of the fact that APC remains the most popular political party in the North West and the only platform accepted by electorates across the zone.
“Series of celebrations commemorating today’s judgement and peaceful atmosphere across Kano State is another testimony that the court has just spoken the minds of the masses which they had already demonstrated through the ballot box on 18th March 2023, only to be snatched using invalid votes.
“The APC National Vice Chairman North West, Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad reiterates the party’s commitment and support at the Zonal level to within the confine of the law continue defending the mandate of the party members at all levels across the zone.
“Datti also congratulates His Excellency Dr Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, his deputy Murtala Sule Garo, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the APC family in Kano, North West and the entire country on this deserving victory.
“The Zonal Chairman equally, rejects in totality the verdict of Zamfara State Election Petition Tribunal and call on the candidate of the All Progressives Congress and current Minister of State Defence His Excellency Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle to as a matter of urgency approach the appeal court where we hope that the error made by the tribunal will be corrected.
“Hon. Garba Datti insists that due process in legal proceedings must be adhered to by our candidates at all levels and the party at the zonal level will stand by them every step of the way.
“Datti also call for calm from members of the party across the zone especially the youthful ones to abide by laws of the land as All Progressives Congress believed that justice will be served and APC is going to reclaim its stolen mandates lawfully”.