Kano LG Elections Cancellation: Sen. Hanga Reacts
By Comfort Chukwukelue
Abuja — In a recent reaction to the disqualification of key officials from the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission, Senator Rufa’i Hanga (NNPP – Kano Central) expressed confidence in the New Nigerian Peoples Party’s (NNPP) political influence in Kano State.
Despite the recent Federal High Court ruling that led to the disqualification of Prof. Sani Malumfashi, the commission’s chairman, and five other members for alleged political affiliations, Hanga emphasized the NNPP’s deep-rooted support across Kano’s local government areas.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Simon Amobeda, came as a result of a case brought forward by Aminu Aliyu Tiga and the All Progressives Congress (APC). The court found that Malumfashi and other commission members were affiliated with a political party, questioning their impartiality in overseeing the elections.
During an interview with journalists in Abuja, Senator Hanga, the Senate Minority Whip, criticized the ruling and suggested that the NNPP would remain dominant in Kano’s political landscape regardless of the electoral process. “What the court has succeeded in doing is ‘to postpone the evil days,'” Hanga remarked, asserting that the APC’s actions aimed to obstruct NNPP’s anticipated success by using “federal might” to influence the outcome. He contended that “NNPP has become a household name in Kano politics, and even if the INEC takes over, it will not change the NNPP’s standing.”
Referring to examples from other states, Hanga questioned why Kano’s elections were being scrutinized when similar occurrences in APC-led states did not face the same level of opposition. “Tell me which state that APC is controlling that another party has won even a councilor in the ongoing local government elections across the country,” he stated, adding, “See Benue, Kogi, and so many other states. So why Kano State, why NNPP?”
In related development, Hanga addressed recent allegations involving a senator and illegal drugs.
He described the accusations from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as unfounded and misleading, clarifying that a security guard, rather than a senator, was found with marijuana, commonly known as “Indian hemp.” Hanga added, “It is troubling that a government agency would accuse a ranking senator without evidence, especially when both parties are supposed to work together towards national objectives.”
He further elaborated, “I am very surprised that a government agency like NDLEA can just wake up and accuse a senator, not just a senator but a ranking one in that matter, without evidence. In fact, the distinguished [senator] confided in us that it was one of his security guards in one of his houses that was caught with Indian hemp, not that it was found in his house.”
