The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has rejected the outcome of the Ghari/Tsanyawa State Assembly re-run election conducted on Saturday, August 16, in Kano State, alleging manipulation and collusion between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Addressing journalists in Kano on Sunday, NNPP State Chairman Comrade Hashimu Dungurawa accused INEC of “denying the electorate their rights” by declaring the APC candidate the winner.
Dungurawa said the re-run, ordered by the Court of Appeal in 10 polling units, was conducted peacefully, but INEC allegedly cancelled results from the re-run units and reverted to earlier results already challenged in court.
“In Ghari local government, the re-run was conducted peacefully, but through manipulation by some unpatriotic politicians working with INEC officials, the APC candidate was declared winner,” he said.
The party also criticised INEC for announcing the result at its Kano headquarters instead of the constituency collation centre, describing the move as creating room for manipulation.
The NNPP vowed to resist what it described as injustice, favouritism, and electoral fraud, insisting that the presiding officers’ signed results should have been upheld.
Meanwhile, the party praised the Shanono/Bagwai by-election, where its candidate was declared winner, describing the process as credible and commending security agencies for ensuring peace.
“We salute the courage of our people who stood with us and voted for NNPP candidates in all the re-run and by-elections,” Dungurawa added.
The electoral body and the APC are yet to respond to the allegations.
According to reports, INEC Returning Officer for the Ghari/Tsanyawa re-run, Professor Muhammad Waziri, declared APC’s Garba Ya’u Gwarmai winner with 31,472 votes, defeating NNPP’s Yusuf Ali Maigado, who polled 27,931 votes.