Kano APC Denies Involvement in Court Case Against NDC Governorship Candidate, Gwarzo

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has denied allegations that it and Governor Abba Yusuf were responsible for the omission of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam-Gwarzo, from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s list.

The party described the allegation by former Kano State Governor and NDC vice-presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, as false, insisting that the legal dispute originated from an internal crisis within the NDC.

The APC’s position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Kano State Chairman, Alhaji Umar Haruna-Doguwa, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria in Kano.

Haruna-Doguwa maintained that neither the APC, Governor Yusuf nor the party’s governorship candidate had any involvement in the legal proceedings concerning Abdussalam-Gwarzo.

He said the case was instituted by members of the NDC against the party itself, rather than by the APC or the Kano State Government.

“The party described the allegation as false, baseless and an attempt by Kwankwaso to blackmail the APC and its governorship candidate,” the statement said.

The APC chairman argued that attempts to link the party and its candidate to the matter were misleading and intended to divert attention from the internal challenges confronting the NDC.

He also stressed that the judiciary was an independent arm of government and that neither the APC nor its governorship candidate had the authority to influence court proceedings or decisions.

Haruna-Doguwa challenged Kwankwaso to provide credible and verifiable evidence linking the APC or Governor Yusuf to the case instead of making allegations he said could mislead the public and create unnecessary political tension.

He described the allegation as an attempt at political blackmail, particularly given Kwankwaso’s position as the NDC vice-presidential candidate.

The APC chairman further maintained that every eligible candidate had a constitutional right to participate in the 2027 general elections in accordance with the law.

He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to democratic principles and said the APC welcomed the participation of opposition parties in the electoral process.

Haruna-Doguwa urged the public to disregard attempts to associate the APC and its governorship candidate with the NDC’s internal legal dispute, reiterating that the party had no direct or indirect involvement in the proceedings or any decision concerning Abdussalam-Gwarzo.