Kano ADP Candidate, Koguna, Writes INEC, Challenges Replacement
PPLITICS DIGEST – A Kano politician, Nasiru Koguna, has claimed that he is still the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party, ADP, in Kano not Sha’aban Sharada.
In a letter addressed to Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr Koguna, through his lawyer Professor Nasiru Aliyu, SAN, said he was duly elected as the ADP candidate by the delegates of the party.
He further stated that he did not personally write to the INEC notifying it about withdrawal as required by the Electoral Act 2022.
“We act as Solicitors to HON. NASIRU HASSAN KOGUNA a card-carrying member of Action Democratic Party (ADP), and he is hereinafter refer to as our client” on whose behalf and instructions we write this letter,” the letter reads.
“You will recall that, Our Client was the duly nominated candidate of Action Democratic Party (ADP) for the Kano State Gubernatorial Election in the forthcoming 2023 General Election. Consequent upon that our client’s name was forwarded to your commission by the party.
“Our brief reveals that, our client participated in the process of nomination of Kano state Gubernatorial candidate of ADP and unanimously nominated and endorsed as the Gubernatorial! candidate of the party by all 748 delegates eligible to nominate Kano State Gubernatorial candidate for 2023 general election.”
According to Daily Nigerian, the letter further reveals how the national chairman of the party engineered the substitution of his name without following due process as required by law.
“However, after the publication of our client’s name as the candidate of ADP Gubernatorial Candidate for the said general election, the National Chairman of the ADP approached our client with a view to explore the possibility of him withdrawing and relinquishing his nomination as the gubernatorial candidate and step-down to the position of Deputy Gubernatorial candidate of the party.
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“Our client was further informed that if he agrees with proposition above, the party will replace him with one Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada as the party’s flag bearer on the following understanding and conditions;
That the party agreed to refund our client all expenses he incurred in the process of contesting the election and campaigns he undertook.
That the party promised to nominate our client as the running mate of its candidate for the Kano State governorship election.
That our client’s voluntary withdrawal will be effective when he deposes to an affidavit clearly stating the facts of his withdrawal before a Commissioner for Oath in any court of law in Nigeria.
That INEC Form for the Notice of the Voluntary Withdrawal of his candidacy shall be filled by him and same be submitted by him in person to the National Headquarters of ADP in Abuja
That both sides shall show seriousness, good faith and genuine commitment to the agreed terms of the agreement
That the said withdrawal shall only be deemed effective and binding on our client when the party fulfills all its own part of the terms of the agreement.”
“Our client briefed us that in order to show his seriousness and commitment to the National Chairman, he sent an unsworn notice of voluntary withdrawal to National Chairman of the Party via WhatsApp Platform, waiting for the party to fulfill side of its bargain. However, to our client’s dismay and surprise, the party failed to fulfill any of its own part of the agreement.
“Consequent upon the afore said failure and neglect of the party, our client was flabbergasted and shocked to have seen the party prepared and conducted a charade primary election, purporting to replace him with the said Sha’aban Ibrahim Sharada, while our client is alive and neither did he agree to withdraw from the contest nor submitted his Voluntary Withdrawal Notice to the Party in person as provided by the Electoral Act 2022.
“In view of the foregoing, we write to inform you and reiterate the fact that Our Client is still and remains the valid and lawful nominated Kano State Gubernatorial Candidate of ADP having been duly nominated under a nomination process conducted by the party, and his name was duly submitted by the party.”
