The New Nigeria Peoples Party Chairman Alhaji Hashimu Dungurawa has expressed dismay as he describes the Appeal Court’s verdict as as a sign of doom for democracy in Nigeria.
Dungurawa disclosed this in a telephone interview with journalist in Kano
“The judgement is very unexpected. We never expected it will happen this way. The way things are going and with the way the judicial system is, definitely democracy is coming to an end in this country.
“I see no reason why a person will go to the grassroots and introduce himself to the people, they will go to polling booth to cast their votes, and the Independent election umpire will issue him a certificate of return and he will enter office and just one two or three people will sit down and remove him. This is very unbecoming and is not helping matters.
Dungurawa described democracy as a game of numbers which his party had proven to be ahead of other contenders in the state but their expectations have been dashed by the Appeal Court’s verdict.
“Democracy is said to be a game of numbers and the person in question happens to get the highest numbers in the election.
“In all the Assembly members we are having 26 out of 40, we are having two out of three Senators. And even the Presidential candidate is from the state and has the highest votes in a state in the presidential contest.
“We are not happy with this judgement and consider it not acceptable. We will take all the necessary steps to reclaim our stolen mandate. Because this is a stolen mandate and we will not allow it. People of Kano state are not happy with it, NNPP people are not happy with it” he declared.
Radio Nigeria reports that Kano remained calm as security operatives are placed in strategic locations in anticipation of any reaction by supporters.
Activities have continued as usual with an uneasy calm as the state Governor, Yusuf and many of his aides have not been in the state for no fewer than seven days before the verdict.