The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the name and credentials of Sadiq Wali as the gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano state.
DAILY GIST reported that the state PDP had split into two factions, with either side holding parallel primary elections that produced Wali and Muhammad Sani-Abacha, the son of late Military Head of State, respectively as governorship candidates.
This has led to confusion among members of the party loyal to the state executive led by Shehu Sagagi.
The crisis in the Kano chapter of the opposition party led to parallel primary elections, which produced the sons of former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, and that of late former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.
INEC had before now recognised Abacha as the authentic PDP governorship candidate in the state, following a Federal High Court ruling that recognized Shehu Sagagi’s faction that produced him.
But in a twist of event, the Kano office of the electoral umpire on Friday displayed the name of Mr Wali, alongside his running mate, Yusuf Dambatta, as the bona fide governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the 2023 election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Professor Riskuwa Shehu, had told journalists on June 30 that the commission monitored only the primaries conducted by the Shehu Wada Sagagi-led state executive which produced Abacha as its governorship candidate.
But with the list of gubernatorial candidates pasted nationwide on Friday at INEC’s state offices, Wali’s name and that of his deputy, Yusuf Dambatta, were displayed on the wall at Kano INEC office.
Reacting to the development, the INEC Kano state Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Adam Maulud, said the commission at the state level submitted what the outcome of the primary election it monitored to the national headquarters.
He said what was, however, pasted on the wall on Friday was what was sent back from the national headquarters.
“We have sent what we did to our national headquarters and what we pasted today (Friday) came from them directly.”
“Whoever wishes to seek any clarification should contact the body of his or her national party for any information,” he said
