The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has displayed Sadiq Muhammad Wali on its list as the validly elected candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano State.
INEC had earlier remarked that the only primary election they observed was that which produced Mohammad Abacha as the gubernatorial candidate in Kano for the 2023 general election.
With this omission, Abacha, the son of late military Head of State, who had hoped his name was on the list, may protest the list and even sue INEC, it was learnt.
Kano Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Shehu Risqua, on Friday declined to comment on the twist.
Sadiq Muhammad Wali is a graduate of Bayero University, Kano. He alongside his running mate, Yusuf Dambatta, were listed as the INEC recognised PDP candidates for the 2023 Kano State governorship polls.
Also on the INEC list is Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gawuna is the current Deputy Governor.
He graduated from Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto. His name alongside his running mate, Murtala Sule Garo -the immediate past commissioner for local government, are on the list.
The name of Yusuf Abba Kabir and his running mate, Aminu Abdussalam have also appeared on the INEC list as candidates of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). It was gathered Kabir has a Masters degree from Bayero University, Kano.
Also on the list is the Peoples Redemption Party’s (PRP’s) governorship candidate, Salihu Tanko Yakasai.
Earlier on June 30, INEC had confirmed that it supervised the primary election that produced Mohammad Abacha as the PDP governorship candidate in Kano State.
Before the clarification, there had been controversy over who the commission recognised as the gubernatorial candidate between Abacha and Sadiq Wali.
“As at the time the PDP primary was conducted in Kano, Shehu Sagagi was the one recognised by the law as the state chairman of the party, who conducted the primary that produced Abacha,” the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Riskuwa Shehu, had told newsmen in Kano.
However, Abacha and Wali emerged winners of two parallel PDP primaries in Kano, with each of them claiming to be the authentic candidate.
