The Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, his deputy who is also the APC Gubernatorial candidate Nasiru Gawuna, the deputy gubernatorial candidate Murtala Sule Garo and all the three senatorial candidates have shunned the Kano Peace Summit organize by Kano State Police Command in partnership with AMG Foundation.
In a statement signed by the NNPP Campaign Spokesperson Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the party believed that the aforementioned APC leaders have intentionally deserted Kano in a plan to avoid participation at the said peace summit held at Kano Lebanon Club as part of measures to ensure peaceful conduct of 2023 general elections.
The leadership of the APC in Kano which include the executive governor, the gubernatorial candidate and his deputy, the senatorial candidates and the state APC chairman were all invited among other keys political stakeholders to discuss issues related to security and safety of Kano before, during and after 2023 elections but none of them was in attendance.
The statement alleged that APC boycotted the summit in solidarity to Abdullahi Abbas who is notorious in making inciting statements and hate speeches that have been heating the polity which were part of the issues of discussion at the peace summit as it will naturally exposed him at the public space.
“The State APC chairman’s utterances and actions have been causing violent attacks against members of the oppositions, particularly the NNPP and their campaign properties in the state, which the summit is determined to address to safeguard the teaming voters so as not disenfranchised them from exercising their civic rights”.
Dawakin Tofa added that it was glaring APC is a culprit in this direction, so they decided to shun the peace summit entirely because they’re not ready to allow peace to reign in the state.
Governor Ganduje was expected to deliver a speech as a Special Guest of Honour, but he was nowhere to be found despite the confirmation of attendance given by him along with all senatorial candidates, gubernatorial candidate and his deputy.
“ May be they thought we are going to discuss the disruption 2019 election collation in Nasarawa local government that was orchestrated by the current governorship flag-bearer of the APC Nasiru Gawuna and his deputy Murtala Garo” Sanusi Bature stated
During the plenary session at the occasion, papers were presented on the electoral act 2022 as amended while participants expressed their grievances against INEC and the Police particularly for their inability to arrest and prosecute the APC chairman Abdullahi Abbas and his son Sani Abdullahi Abbas (Ochi) who allegedly sphere headed violent attacks in parts of Gwale and Kano Municipal local government areas.