The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has accused the Vice-Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, of allegedly taking possession of 69 nomination forms meant for aspirants contesting various positions under the party in Kano State.
The allegation has reportedly created uncertainty among several PRP aspirants, with party officials expressing concerns over the possible impact ahead of the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for submission of candidates’ names.
The claim was made by the PRP Chairman in Kano State, Abdulkadir Musa Guza, during a press briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Kano.
Guza said the issue emerged after he travelled to Kaduna for a party retreat and to collect nomination forms for aspirants in Kano who had already paid for the forms to contest under the party’s platform.
“I was in Kaduna as State Chairman of PRP to participate at 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.
The party chairman said he was surprised by the development and sought clarification from the party’s leadership.
“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 for his possible defections to our party,” Guza stated.
He explained that the party initially believed the purchase of the forms could be connected to discussions over Kwankwaso’s reported possible move to the PRP.
However, Guza said days had passed without any official announcement or formal defection by the former Kano State governor, raising concerns within the party over the motive behind the action.
According to him, the development suggested that Kwankwaso may have been acting against the party’s interests, arguing that a person cannot belong to another political party while holding nomination forms of another platform.
Guza said the situation had placed many aspirants in a difficult position, particularly those who had completed payment and planned to contest under the PRP.
He warned that the party would consider legal action if the forms were not returned before INEC’s deadline for the submission of candidates.
“We don’t know his missions, that is why we are telling every listening ears the situation,” he said.
The PRP chairman stressed that the matter goes beyond internal party disagreements, noting that the political future of several aspirants could be affected.
“That is why we are taking legal actions against him should he refuse to surrender our forms before INEC closes time for submission of contestants’ names to their office,” he added.
Guza further alleged that similar challenges may be affecting other political parties.
“It is not only our party that is suffering this negative fate. Other parties are facing the same problems as us,” he said.
As of the time of filing the report, Kwankwaso had not publicly responded to the allegations.
