In what could be termed an 11th hour decision, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) cancelled their planned protests for and against the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal on the Kano State governorship election petition, which sacked Governor Abba Yusuf of the NNPP and declared APC’s Dr. Nasiru Gawuna as the winner.
The two rival political parties had issued strong notices to shut down business and commercial activities in the state yesterday with massive protests against and in favour of the judgment of the Appeal Court, triggering fears of a possible breakdown of law and order.
However, amid heavy deployment of armed security personnel across strategic locations in the city centre, residents went about their normal daily activities under a peaceful atmosphere.
Efforts to speak with the state Chairman of the NNPP, Hashimu Dungurawa, on why the protest was cancelled did not yield fruit, as he did not pick his calls or reply to text messages sent to him.
However, a prominent member of the party, who pleaded anonymity, told The Guardian that concerns over possible loss of lives and property, and other negative implications were part of the reasons the protest was put on hold.
On his part, state secretary of the APC, Zakari Sarina, said the decision to cancel the planned protest followed the decision of NNPP.
Sarina stressed that since APC was compelled to declare a counter protest against NNPP, there was no need to proceed with the action since the NNPP had cancelled theirs.
Meanwhile, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, has refuted the allegation that the NNPP protests were being funded by the state government.
Sanusi told Regency Reporters that the state governor was neither aware of any planned protest nor funding the NNPP.