Following the conclusion of the Kano State 2019 Gubernatorial Supplementary Election, a pressure group Peace and Media Advocacy has carpeted the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) for allegedly reporting widespread violence and vote buying during the Kano supplementary election saying “that the EU Mission’s report was biased, inaccurate and politically- motivated to satisfy the whims and caprices of their pay masters who want to win at all costs”.

In a press statement made available to journalists and signed by the national coordinator of the group, Comrade James Okoronkwo they lamented that the European Union Election Observation Mission’s allegation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies doing little to address the violence and malpractices during the Kano State supplementary election was malicious and unsubstantiated. Continuing, PMAG noted that the acting Inspector – general of Police (IGP) Mr. Abubakar Mohammed Adamu ensured a peaceful, transparent, free and fair election in Kano State by deploying Mr. Anthony Agbizili Micheal, a deputy commissioner of police to take charge of security during the rerun election and from reports of majority of the election observers, the police performed meritoriously in ensuring the smooth conduct of Kano State supplementary election.

Okoronkwo stated that given the fact that this is the first time a supplementary election is being conducted in the state and also the omnibus size of Kano State with its 44 local government areas, the supplementary election in 207 polling units of 28 local government areas after the declaration of the first ballot in the governorship election as inconclusive, the Independent National Electoral Commission performed creditably in conducting the Kano State supplementary election that was won by incumbent Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who scored 1,033,695 votes to defeat the PDP candidate who polled 1,024,713 votes.

Furthermore, Peace and Media Advocacy urged the EU Mission to join hands with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deepen our democracy by lending expert support rather than deploying arm chair observers who stay in
the comfort of their luxury hotel rooms to concoct lies in the name of reports to cause confusion and anarchy. PMAG noted that by their jaundiced and malicious report, European Union Election Observation Mission has a hidden agenda and must be condemned by all well – meaning Nigerians. “We are calling on the peace -loving people of Kano State to jettison the EU Mission’s report as it is borne out of malice, prejudice and politically motivated to settle political scores so as to destroy the peace and tranquility recorded during and after the Kano State governorship supplementary election.”

Finally, the group appealed to the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to be magnanimous in victory. They also urged his supporters to savor their victory with peace.