Two former Governors of Kano State, Rabiu Kwakwanso and Ibrahim Shekarau, bonded symbolically on Wednesday when the first emerged the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

The duo, observers say, have the potential give Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and the All Progressives Congress a run for their money in Kano, which commands the biggest hub of voters in the country.

Kwankwaso, who was a sole aspirant, emerged as the party’s flagbearer through a voice vote by delegates at the party’s National Convention held at the Velodrome of the “Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Wednesday.

The former Defence Minister in his acceptance remarks, appreciated all those who dropped their presidential aspirations for him and the delegates that elected him.

Kwankwaso said that he would do whatever mattered to ensure the success of NNPP and its candidates for various elective positions in the 2023 general elections.

“Our party is so lucky, having young men and women with integrity contesting various positions in 2023

“While congratulating all of us, I want to urge Nigerians to vote for NNPP,

He said that NNPP stood for peace, unity, stability and development of Nigeria.

Kwankwaso urged the delegates and party members not to go back home and sleep but to keep convincing eligible voters across all ethic groups and religions to vote for NNPP in the 2023 general elections.

Kwankwaso had earlier pledged that when elected, his administration would carry citizens along without favour on ethnicity or religion bias.

He also promised that his administration would provide necessary infrastructure for the development of Nigeria.

“Our government will ensure that adequate roads are provided, ensure that trains are working.

“We are going to improve the aviation industry to make it more effective and affordable so that many people as possible can travel either by road by water or by air in this country,” he said.

He urged all party members and supporters to register and get their Permanent Voter Cards before the suspension of registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by June 30, to enable them vote in 2023 general elections.

“Don’t just say that you are supporting NNPP without getting your PVC, go and register with INEC.

“Ensure that your family members, your friends and everyone around you register and vote,” Kwankwaso said.

Also at the venue, the former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, described the convention as a moment of change for Nigeria.

“This is a moment of change for our youths and women. Change for our economy and change for the nation.

“Nigeria is a potentially great nation. What we need is a purposeful and committed leadership.

“We need a leadership that will give sense of belonging to every citizen and entire ethnics of the country,” Shekarau said.

A former Governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, has said that there is nothing like zoning in the constitution of the All Progressives Congress.

According to him, it may be in that of the Peoples Democratic Party but not in the APC’s.

He said this while interacting with journalists on Sunday, saying what should matter to the electorate was quality leadership.

Shekarau, also an APC senator, said, “I want to tell you that there is no place in the APC constitution that the issue of zoning is mentioned. I think it is only being considered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“All we need is quality leadership, fairness and justice to all, and carrying everyone along; that is what is called balancing of equation.”

He said, Ganduje and I have been together for so many years. When I was the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Office then, he was a commissioner, and we used to interact a lot.
“I want to assure you that our relationship has since remained cordial, even up to now. So, there is no any problem between us.
“The same thing applies to Kwankwaso; we are in good relationship. Our political differences has not, and will not, affect our relationship. I have never defected from one party to another because of him.
“When I was in APC, Kwankwaso joined the party and then, I left, not because of him, but because of the leadership of the party. The same thing when I was in PDP; I later left, not because he joined the party,” he said.
Kano politics has, in recent years, been revolving around the trio.

While Ganduje was Kwankwaso’s deputy, they fell out after Ganduje’s election.

The frosty relationship has occasionally been heating up the polity.

The Federal High Court sitting in Kano on Monday, struck out the no-case submission filed by the former governor of Kano State, Ibrahim Shekarau, challenging his alleged N950 million money laundering trial.

The EFCC, arraigned Shekarau on May 24, 2018 , alongside former Foreign Affairs Minister, , Aminu Wali and one Mansur Ahmad on six counts bordering on conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N950 million.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Lewis Allagoa, held that the EFCC has made out a prima facie case against the defendants, warranting that they must defend themselves.

“I have considered evidence by the prosecution against the defendants, it is sufficient that they have case to answer and defend themselves,” he said.

Allagoa adjourned the case until Nov.18 and Nov. 19, for defence to open its case.

Earlier, Counsel to Shekarau and two others, Mr Dauda Abdulrahman, and Mr Abdul Adamu, on July 9 filed a no case submission.

Adamu said EFCC failed to present a prima facie case to warrant the defendants entering defense and urged the court to discharge his clients.

Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Johnson Ojogbane, had earlier told the court that the defendants, between March 26 and March 27, 2015, conspired among themselves and received the said amount without going through financial institutions.

He said that the money was issued to the defendants by the Peoples Democratic Party and former petroleum minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 16 (2)(b) of the same Act and Section 15(1) of money laundering Act.

The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

NAN reports that the defendants were earlier granted bail in the sum of N100 million each with two reliable sureties in like sum and during the course of trial, the prosecution called four witnesses and closed its case on May 8.