The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has accused the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, of allegedly acquiring 69 nomination forms meant for various political offices in Kano State, a development the party said has created confusion among its aspirants.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Kano, the PRP State Chairman, Abdulkadir Musa Guza, alleged that the forms were purchased despite ongoing preparations by party members seeking to contest elective positions.
According to Guza, he was in Kaduna for a party retreat and had also gone to obtain nomination forms on behalf of aspirants from Kano who had paid for them when he was informed that all the forms had already been purchased.
“I was in Kaduna as State Chairman of PRP to participate in the party retreat and also obtained forms for my people who were contesting various offices in Kano and who paid for them, but I was told that somebody had purchased all the forms,” he said.
Guza claimed that upon further inquiry, the party’s National Secretary informed him that Kwankwaso had purchased the forms.
“When I pressed hard to know who the person was, the National Secretary of our party told me that it was Kwankwaso, and I asked why. They said we are in talks with him over his possible defection to our party,” he alleged.
The PRP chairman said that after several days without any indication that Kwankwaso intended to join the party, concerns emerged regarding the purpose of the alleged purchase.
According to him, the situation has left many aspirants uncertain about their political future.
“We don’t know his mission, that is why we are telling every listening ear the situation,” Guza stated.
He further alleged that hundreds of aspirants seeking to contest under the PRP platform had been affected by the development.
The party threatened legal action if the forms were not returned before the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the submission of candidates’ names.
“That is why we are taking legal action against him should he refuse to surrender our forms before INEC closes the time for submission of contestants’ names,” he said.
Guza also claimed that the PRP was not the only political party facing such challenges, alleging that similar situations were affecting other parties.
“It is not only our party that is suffering this negative fate. Other parties are facing the same problems as us,” he added.
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