By Abdullahi Haruna
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has presented certificates of return to winners of gubernatorial elections in Nigeria, and among those who received their certificates of returns this morning was Engr Abba Kabiru Yusif of New Nigerian New Party, the governor-elect of Nigeria’s most populous state, Kano.
The announcement of Kabir’s victory was made by INEC in the early hours of Monday, March 20, 2023, following a keenly contested election in the state. The declaration was made amid growing tension in the state, as supporters of different political parties waited anxiously for the results.
According to the results declared by the Returning Officer for the Kano State Governorship election, Professor Ahmed Ibrahim, the NNPP candidate, Kabir, polled 1,019,602 votes to defeat his closest rival, Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress, who polled 890,705 votes.
Kabir’s victory has been received with mixed reactions from different quarters. While supporters of the NNPP have been jubilating and celebrating their victory, supporters of other political parties have expressed disappointment and called for a review of the election results.
Speaking after receiving his certificate of return, Kabir thanked the people of Kano State for their support and promised to work hard to improve the living conditions of the people of the state.
Kabir’s victory in Kano State has further intensified the political landscape in Nigeria, with the NNPP becoming a force to reckon with in the country’s political sphere. Many analysts have described the party’s victory as a signal that Nigerian politics is becoming more competitive, with smaller parties now having a chance of winning elections in the country.
