Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP) in the 2023 election, has alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, fraudulently allocated votes to Bola Tinubu which led to his emergence as President-elect.
He stated this in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, adding that Tinubu could not have won because Nigerians no longer liked the All Progressives Congress, (APC) under which he contested for presidency.
The former Kano state governor said the NNPP is where Nigerians are trooping behind because it has a bright future as “big politicians” are interested in the party.
He said: “Another interesting thing is that more people, particularly big politicians, are seriously indicating interest in our party, and they are willing to make necessary contributions to move the party forward. Take a look at our rivals, particularly the PDP.
“They are in a serious crisis, particularly as it concerns its leaders. In Kano State, some thought PDP will be of help to them, or game changer, but they were disappointed woefully. Same with the APC.
“All these votes you see INEC mentioned were fraudulently allocated to its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. The truth is that Nigerians don’t like APC anymore, hence our party is the one that has the future.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, 29th of March 2023, INEC declared Bola Ahmed Tinubu president-elect.
Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced Tinubu as winner of the presidential elections around 4a.m at the National Collation Centre in Abuja.
“That Tinubu Bola Ahmed of the APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected,” Professor Yakubu declared in an announcement watched by an eager nation and many across the world.
Tinubu clinched victory with wins in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states, and secured significant numbers in several other states to claim the highest number of votes — 8,794,726, almost two million votes more than his closest rival — former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Former vice president Atiku Abubakar, who has now run for president six times, got 6,984,520 votes, while the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, who, in less than a year, galvanised young voters in a manner some have described as unprecedented finished the race with 6,101,533.
The Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi won the polls in 11 states, including the home state of the APC candidate — Lagos. He also came out tops in the nation’s capital Abuja. Abubakar, like Tinubu, was victorious in 12 states.
Whereas Kwankwaso finished fourth, claiming victory in his state, Kano. He secured 1,496,687 votes.