The Transition Monitoring Groups (TMG), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), and Kano Civil Society Election Situation Room have kicked against some groups of Civil Society Networks advocating cancellation of the outcome of March 18th gubernatorial elections in Kano.
Besides, they distanced themselves from those they referred to as faceless groups who cooked up fake stories about civil society organisations, otherwise calling for review of the governorship poll in the state.
Some groups of accredited observers recently urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider a review of the election where Abba Kabiru Yusuf, the candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) was declared winner.
At a joint press conference yesterday, the Chairman of TMG, Auwal Ibrahim Ranfsanjani insisted that no accredited observer would interfere with the conduct of elections or call for cancellation.
Ranfsanjani alleged that those calling for the upturn of the elections are politically motivated and sponsored to take position with a political party, saying they can never claim to be genuine civil society groups.
According to Ranfsanjani, “it must be categorically stated that as credible organisations duly accredited by INEC, to observe the 2023 general elections, we understand our roles as stated in INEC guidelines.
“It is therefore unimaginable that, these groups of credible organisations would assume any form of partisan position in their action or words as has been highlighted in their malicious reports.”
Similarly, the Convener of Kano Civil Society Elections Situation Room, Amb. Waiya called the public to disregard in totality the wild reports accredited to the civil society, adding that those who are not satisfied with the process should seek redress.
Waiya also urged the media to filter credible civil society groups from faceless, politically sponsored groups who hide under the name of credible organisations to concoct fake stories that suit their narratives.
