Kwankwaso shuns Arewa presidential dialogue, alleges secret endorsement of candidate

Presidential Candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has distanced himself from the Arewa Joint Committee interactive session with presidential candidates.

Several groups including the Arewa Consultative Forum, Arewa House, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Northern Elders Forum and Arewa Research and Development Project, are the organisers of the presidential interactive session.

In a letter signed by his campaign spokesperson, Abdulmumin Jibrin, and addressed to the organisers of the joint session, Kwankwaso explained that he had already arranged campaign activities for the date and his technical team is still working on his policy document, on which the engagement is based.

The former Kano state governor further alleged that his team is in possession of credible information that some people behind the engagement have been compromised, and the event will be used to “clandestinely endorse” another candidate from Northern Nigeria.

The statement read in part, “We have credible information in our possession that shows that some people have been compromised and these people have concluded plans to turn the event into an endorsement platform for a particular candidate.

“We believe that it’s very wrong for any group to clandestinely plan to endorse any candidate in the name of the North, especially when we have more than one candidate from our region.”

He further alleged that the event was postponed from its earlier date to coincide with the other candidate’s rally in Kaduna State.

“We note that the earlier date was even postponed and a new date was fixed to coincide with the date of the rally of one of the presidential candidates in Kaduna. This further gives credence to the information in our possession that the event is being financed by that candidate,” the statement stated.

Kwankwaso therefore cautioned organizers of the event to desist from endorsing any candidate as it will further polarize the North.

According to the itinerary of the interactive session, Kwankwaso was to address the gathering on Monday, alongside Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), while Atiku Abubakar of the PDP had earlier addressed the gathering.
Source – Daily Post

 

 

 

Mustapha Inuwa, Katsina APC bigwig, defects to PDP

Dr Mustapha Inuwa, a key member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He made this known at his campaign office in Katsina on Sunday after meeting with hundreds of his supporters and groups, who were chanting songs of solidarity on his capacity and ability to shape the politics of the State.

Inuwa, who is the immediate past Secretary to the Katsina State Government (SSG) under the incumbent Governor Aminu Bello Masari, contested for the Katsina guber ticket under the APC but lost to Dr Dikko Umar Radda.

Shortly after the primaries, Dr Inuwa conducted a press briefing where he pledged his support for Dr Radda.

However, things suddenly fell apart and supporters of the two camps began to trade accusations.

Apart from the state PDP and NNPP leadership, others who visited Inuwa were the APC and Labour Party Vice Presidential candidates, Senators Kashim Shetima and Datti Baba Ahmed respectively.

He eventually decided to rejoin his old home, the PDP, which he left penultimate 2015 election for the then opposition APC.

Inuwa said he has realized that he and his supporters had no relevance in the APC.
Source – Daily Trust