The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has challenged Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to provide evidence linking Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the legal battle surrounding the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
The party described Kwankwaso’s allegations as false and baseless, accusing the former Kano State governor of attempting to blackmail the APC and its governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Kwankwaso had alleged that Governor Yusuf and the APC were behind moves to prevent Gwarzo from contesting the election, following the omission of his name from the Independent National Electoral Commission's list of candidates.
However, the APC, through its state chairman, Umar Haruna Doguwa, insisted that neither the party nor Governor Yusuf had any involvement in the legal proceedings concerning Gwarzo’s candidacy.
Doguwa explained that the case originated from an internal crisis within the NDC and was instituted by some members of the party against the NDC itself, rather than by the APC or the Kano State Government.
He accused Kwankwaso of attempting to divert attention from the internal challenges confronting his party by dragging the APC and Governor Yusuf into the dispute.
The APC further denied sponsoring, influencing or facilitating the court action against Gwarzo, challenging Kwankwaso to present credible and verifiable evidence to substantiate his claims.
The party also maintained that the judiciary remains an independent arm of government and that neither the APC nor Governor Yusuf has the authority to dictate court proceedings or decisions.
It urged political actors to allow relevant institutions to discharge their constitutional responsibilities without turning internal party disputes into political battles.
The APC reaffirmed that every eligible candidate has the constitutional right to participate in the 2027 general elections in accordance with the law.
It also called on residents to disregard claims linking the party and Governor Yusuf to the NDC's legal dispute, insisting that neither had any direct or indirect involvement in the proceedings concerning Gwarzo’s candidacy.
APC challenges Kwankwaso to prove Gov Yusuf’s involvement in Gwarzo’s ordeal