The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has dismissed allegations by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso linking the party and its governorship candidate, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, to moves to disqualify the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The party described the allegation as false, baseless and an attempt by Kwankwaso to blackmail the APC and its governorship candidate, insisting that neither the party nor Governor Yusuf was involved in the legal proceedings surrounding the NDC candidate.
The APC maintained that the case originated from the internal crisis within the NDC, explaining that it was instituted by members of the party against the NDC itself and not by the APC, its governorship candidate or the Kano State Government.
It stressed that attempts to associate the APC and its candidate Gov. Yusuf with the matter were misleading and intended to shift attention from the internal challenges confronting the NDC.
The party further distanced itself from the legal proceedings, insisting that neither the APC nor its governorship candidate sponsored, influenced or facilitated the court action against Gwarzo.
It challenged Senator Kwankwaso to provide credible and verifiable evidence linking the APC or Governor Yusuf to the case rather than making allegations capable of misleading the public and creating unnecessary political tension.
The APC also described the allegation as an unfortunate attempt at political blackmail, particularly coming from Kwankwaso, who is the vice-presidential candidate of the NDC.
The party emphasised that neither the APC nor its governorship candidate has any interest in interfering in the electoral process or using state power against political opponents, adding that every eligible candidate has the constitutional right to participate in the 2027 general elections in accordance with the law.
It maintained that the judiciary is an independent arm of government and that neither the APC nor its governorship candidate has the authority to dictate its proceedings or decisions.
The party urged Kwankwaso and other political actors to allow relevant institutions to discharge their constitutional responsibilities without unnecessarily politicising legal matters arising from internal party disputes, which would serve as an excuse for their eventual failure to win the election in 2027.
The party called on the public to disregard attempts to associate the APC and its governorship candidate, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, with the NDC’s internal legal battle, reiterating that neither the party nor its candidate has any hand, directly or indirectly, in the proceedings or any decision concerning the party’s candidate.