Our democracy is under threat, says NNPP

.Rejects Tribunal judgment, head to appeal court
.Urges members to be calm

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), on Thursday, said that Nigeria democracy is under serious threat, and there is the need for urgent concerted effort to save it from total annihilation.

NNPP rejected the ruling of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that voided the election of Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State and declared Dr Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress winner.

The Acting Deputy National Chairman, Prince Nwaeze Onu, disclosed this in Abuja, at the press briefing, said that the party will appeal against the judgement for APC to know that it is not possible to hide behind one finger and threat to take Kano back by force.

He call on the party supporters in Kano state and rest of the country to remain calm and be law abiding to maintain the peace.

He said: “It is now very dear that our democracy is under serious threat, and there is the need for urgent concerted effort to save it from total annihilation. Without being immodest, our Party can pride itself as a party that is not desperate for power.

“That is why in spite of the shortcomings of the last general elections, especially, with regard to the disenfranchisement of millions of our voters across the country, we decided not to approach the Tribunal, in view of the tense situation in the country then. Instead, we decided to focus on building our party for future electoral engagements, hoping the future is bright for the growth of democracy in Nigeria.

“Unfortunately, the judgement by the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal on the March 18, 2023, Governorship election is capable of eroding whatever confidence one has in the judiciary of this great country. The reported judgement nulified the free, credible and globally acclaimed fair election of our Governorship Candidate, Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf and brazenly awarded the election to the APC candidate, Nasiru Gawuna.

“The Tribunal arrived at this unjust judgement by unfairly subtracting 165,663 votes from the Governor’s tally in order to enable it unfairly award the eletion result to the candidate of the ruling APC. In doing so the Tribunal obviously affirms its belief that the vote tally of the APC Candidate was sacrosanct. The Supreme Court in many cases has stated its position on this matter in earlier judgements.

“It is going to be a hard nut to crack for the Kano State Election Petition Tribunal to convince a non-partisan Nigerian that in an election cycle with five different polls, (Presidential, Senatorial, House of Representatives, Governorship and House of Assembly).”

NNPP recalled with regret that the Tribunal has simply replayed the unholy script of 2019 by overturning the will of the people and awarding election results to those who evidently and glaringly proven to have lost the election.

He added that, “It is pertinent to ask why is the guilty running when no one is pursuing them? After attempting to steal the people’s mandate, they decared a 24- hour curfew on the State. After depriving the people of the sacred mandate they have freely give to their governor, the desperate politicians also want to deprive the people of their God-given freedom of expression and freedom of movement as well as, indeed, their livelilhood.

“As if the insult visited on the people of Kano State yesterday was not enough, they are restricting them to their houses. The poor people have nothing to eat inside their housos, And now they cannot go out to look for their daily bread because those who want to stel their mandate are scared of the people.”