The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised Muhammad Abacha as the substantive gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano ahead of the forthcoming general election.

The Kano State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Risqua Shehu, told newsmen on Thursday in Kano that the commission recognised the Sagagi-led faction of the party that produced Muhammad Abacha.

Kano State Chapter of the PDP was embroiled in crisis which led to parallel primaries that produced Muhammad Abacha and Sadiq Wali as gubernatorial candidates of the two factions.

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano ruled in favour of the Sagagi-led faction against the Gwarzo-led faction that instituted the litigation.

According to Shehu, the commission recognised Sagagi-led leadership because it was backed by court injunction.

He said: “As at the time the PDP primaries was conducted, Shehu Sagagi was the one recognised by the Law as the state chairman of the party in Kano and is also the only election that we sent our staff to monitor.

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“Although the primaries is a pure party affair, as far as we are concerned the elections conducted by Shehu Sagagi was the one we recognised.”

He said the party headquarters sent a letter notifying the commission of the gubernatorial primary election in Kano.

He added: “And later, Shehu Sagagi the state recognised PDP chairman by law as at that time, came with the same letter from the party headquarters and with locations and we sent our observers who monitored their elections.

“So, as far as INEC is concerned the election conducted by Shehu Sagagi is the authentic election and which was monitored by our staff, this is our position.”

This position, however, brought to end speculation as to which governorship candidate would be on the ballot in Kano under the opposition PDP between Muhammad Abacha and Sadiq Wali.

The Star