The seeming troubles in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State, including court cases trailing its gubernatorial candidate and defections by members and stalwarts, seem to be soothing the rough path that had been a nightmare for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje who is completing his first term is seeking for a second term on the platform of the APC. The PDP which suffered divisions in the last couple of months has Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso as leader of one of the factions. His son-in-law, Engr. Abba Kabiru Yusuf, is the gubernatorial candidate of the party but is being challenged from within.
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has Malam Sagir Takai as its candidate. Takai, an equally popular politician was upbeat that he would clinch the PDP’s ticket through the support of Kwankwaso and others and therefore felt “short-changed” when Kwankwaso insisted the ticket must not go far from his doorstep.
This irked Takai who moved to PRP where he and his supporters supported President Muhammadu Buhari in the Feb. 23 elections.
However, it is apparent that the PRP will not support Governor Ganduje and any other APC candidate on Saturday; if anything, Takai and his supporters will not mind reciprocation from the APC.
Unlike PRP, the PDP in Kano never formed any alliance with APC in the past and therefore will not relent in its effort to stop Ganduje’s re-election.
Pundits suggest that the recent victory of the APC is a predictor of the outcome of the forthcoming gubernatorial poll in the state.
Isma’il Yusuf, who studies attitude of the electorate towards political parties, said “if voters sustain the tempo of voting the ruling party as they did in the presidential election, Ganduje will have an easy ride to return as governor of Kano.
“But if they decide to change their allegiance for some reasons, then the next governor will be either Yusuf or Takai,” he said.
The PDP and PRP governorship hopefuls are capitalising on the video clips that showed Ganduje allegedly collecting bribe from an unknown contractor. Yusuf and Takai believe bribe taking is a grievous crime that Kano voters will not take lightly.
But those close to Ganduje have repeatedly explained that the videos were products of mischief targeted at discrediting the governor’s popularity.
Undoubtedly, the unconfirmed corruption saga had unsettled the APC family in Kano, but it seems they are fast recovering.
The recent judgement by a Federal High Court which nullified the PDP primary election that produced Yusuf as gubernatorial candidate has changed the political atmosphere in the state.
But PDP chairman in the state, Dr Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi, said the development was nothing but a political distraction hatched by political opponents to divert the attention of the electorate.
“We faced similar problem in 2011,” he said, adding “When you have a popular candidate, you should expect this kind of move from your political opponents. We are used to this kind of politics.”
“We have appealed the judgement and we have secured an order for a stay of execution. So, Engr. Yusuf is still our candidate and will participate in tomorrow’s election. We have handled the issue via the provisions of the law,” he added.
The Federal High Court in Kano presided over by Justice Lewis Allagoa, had said the primary election that produced Yusuf as PDP candidate was invalid.
A PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Alhaji Ibrahim Al-Amin, also known as Little, has sued the PDP before Justice Allagoa seeking a definite interpretation of whether the party has legal backing to produce a flag-bearer without conducting primary election.
He had told the court that the party denied him a right to contest in the primary even though he bought and filled nomination forms for the contest.
Daily Trust observed that the judgement has remained a subject of discussion in Kano and environs. While PDP supporters are unhappy with the verdict, those of APC and PRP see a window of opportunity in it.
“To be honest with you, it is very difficult for the PDP and PRP candidates to beat Ganduje in the race for some obvious reasons.
One; in terms of executing capital projects, the governor has not only initiated his own projects, but also completed those started by previous governors.”
Analysts believe the odds seem to favour Ganduje who is not only incumbent governor, but also served as deputy governor and commissioner for local government for eight years under Kwankwaso’s administration.
He was also a former commissioner of Works, Housing and Transport for seven years under three military administrators: late Col. Abdullahi Wase, Col. Dominic Oneya and Col. Aminu Isa Kontagora.
Ganduje also served as director Finance and Administration of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Abuja, executive director of Chad Basin Development Authority and chairman of Gwagwalada, Abaji and Abuja Municipal.
Takai was a former commissioner for Local Government under the Malam Ibrahim Shekarau-led administration, while Yusuf was a former commissioner of Works under the Sen. Kwankwaso-led government.
