Supporters of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State survived attacks by thugs on Thursday as they traveled to the party’s final presidential rally ahead of Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections. The incident, which occurred along the Naibawa‑Zaria Road, damaged at least ten vehicles and set several others on fire. The NNPP supporters were en route to Kwanar Dangora on the city’s outskirts to receive the party’s presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who was on his way to Kano for the grand finale of his campaign rally.
In response, the Kano State Police Command ordered the immediate suspension of the presidential campaign grand finales for the NNPP, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. The ruling party and the two major opposition parties had mobilised members and loyalists to drum up final support for their presidential and National Assembly candidates, with events scheduled for Thursday in the city.
Disturbed by the escalating political rivalry, the police summoned the leadership of the three parties to an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening. During the meeting, officials warned of possible security threats and the untoward consequences of holding multiple rallies. In a letter, the police noted that the APC, NNPP, and PDP had informed the command of their planned Thursday rallies within Kano metropolis.
Given the precarious security situation in the state and the country, the Commissioner of Police appealed to the parties’ representatives, emphasizing that proceeding with the rallies was not in their best interest. Deputy Commissioner of Police Mu’azu Mohammed advised that all political parties postpone the planned presidential and National Assembly rallies to a later date, after the February 25 elections.
Comments are closed for this story.