Former Kano State Governor, Dr Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) under the leadership of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje are set to hold parallel political rally in Kano on January 30, Daily Trust learnt.
The two separate events were centred on the forthcoming local government election in the state slated for February 10, 2018 and by extension, the 2019 general elections.
According to the APC campaign timetable, the party would hold its rally at Kwanar Dangora along Kano- Abuja road on January 30 January for the presentation of flags to candidates.
However, Senator Kwankwaso was expected to come to Kano from Abuja same day to help his people in the ongoing campaign ahead of the February 10 local government poll.
Confirming the senator’s visit, his media aide, Hajiya Binta Spikin, said the former governor would be in Kano on January 30.
There were fears that supporters of the two groups might clash during the events.
Spikin said, “Despite the purported rumours by the Ganduje-led faction of the APC, Kwankwaso will come to Kano on January 30 to help his people, especially those who are contesting in the forthcoming local government election in their campaign activities.
“We are very much aware of the rumours going round that our leader will not come to Kano. The Ganduje’s people are circulating the rumours but I can assure you that this will not stop our leader from coming to Kano on the slated date,” she said.
Also, the Secretary of the APC in the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Zakari Sarina, affirmed that the APC rally at Kwanar Dangora was scheduled according to the campaign timetable released by the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) for the forthcoming local government poll in the state.
“Unfortunately, Senator Kwankwaso did not inform the party about his planned rally which coincides with ours. Had it been he wrote to the party, the party will have shifted its own rally to another day. But because he did not inform the party, we based our own activities in line with KANSIEC’s timetable,” he said.
When contacted for comment, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Magaji Musa Majia, said he would contact the relevant authorities to find out who between Kwankwaso and the APC notified the command about the two planned rallies.
