By Suleiman Anyalewechi, Aba
Consequent upon the brewing tension and anxiety occasioned by the imminent election petition tribunal ruling on the governorship tussle between the Governor of Kano state Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf and his main rival, Dr Nasir Gawuna of the All Progressive Congress, APC, the kano State Police command has banned all forms of public procession and demonstration.
NewsCritic online reports that the electoral victory of New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP’s, Gov Abba Kabir Yusuf has been a subject of a legal brick bat with the elections petition tribunal sitting in kano set to deliver judgment any moment from now.
The imminent ruling appears to have triggered widespread anxiety and apprehensions within the camps of the two main rival political parties, the APC and NNPP.
In a terse statement issued on Monday August 21, 2023 by the Kano Police command, signed by the Commissioner of Police Alhaji Mohammed Usaini Gumel and made available to NewsCritic online, the police warned supporters of the two parties as well as other members of the public to desist from engaging in any form of protest, and or other acts capable of compromising the peace and security of the state.
The police noted that credible information at their disposal has strongly suggested that members of the two rival political parties are currently mobilizing rented protesters across the state, using some nebulous civil society groups as canopy, warning that unapproved processions under any guise will not be condoned.
The statement, further noted that the situation presently on the ground portends a serious threat to national security.
“Checks by the Police Command have so far revealed that some members of APC and NNPP are influencing some people, and groups to embark on protests mainly as a result of apprehensions over the possible outcome of the election petition. The planned protests are also meant to influence and or pre-empt the judgment, “the police stated.
While thanking the members of the public and kano residents for their cooperation and understanding, the Police appealed for restraints on the parts of the political actors in the kano.
