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Politics of Friday, 26 May 2023

Source: www.punchng.com

Kwankwaso’s defection to APC may cause crisis – Chieftain

Rabiu Kwankwaso Rabiu Kwankwaso

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Kano, Sabo Inuwa, has described the alleged move by the presidential candidate of New Nigeria People’s Party, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, to join APC as a positive development.

However, Inuwa said the APC would have to be cautious in admitting Kwankwaso, because if the situation is not well managed “potential crises may engulf the APC, particularly in Kano and other states up country, where it is strongest, in the event of missteps, that can be costly and destabilising to a new Asiwaju government.”

Inuwa shared his views in Kano on Thursday during a chat with journalists.

He said, “This (alleged plan by Kwankwaso to join the APC) is presently in the realm of assumptions; however, when it turns out to be true, it should be viewed as a positive development, given that our 1999 Constitution allows for freedom of association and choice.

“However, the issue needs wide evaluation and consultations. Whatever offer the NNPP has in wanting to join the APC, caution is the word here and it should be gauged against actual needs of the APC, particularly at the National Assembly where it has a clear majority in both the Senate, 59 and 168, in the lower chamber.

“As a grassroots mobiliser, my observations are hinged on potential crises that may engulf the APC, particularly in Kano.”

Kwankwaso, who came fourth in the February 25 presidential election, is not challenging the declaration of the APC’s Bola Tinubu as the winner of the poll, unlike the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who came second and third respectively and are currently in court seeking to nullify Tinubu’s victory.

It was reported that Kwankwaso met with Tinubu in Paris, France on May 15 for talks.

On electoral offenders, nuwa called for what he described as “stiffer prison terms for those who smuggled unstamped ballots to the polling units on election day and those found guilty of inciting violence during the election to serve as a deterrent to others.”

“Kano is a volatile place and examples ought to be set on electoral offenders. Twenty-five years of our democracy is a huge investment that must not be allowed to be frittered away by irresponsible chaps parading themselves as leaders,” he added.