Abdullahi Ganduje, Kano state governor has described those criticizing the state of inflating figures that contributed to the success of President Muhammadu Buhari in Saturday’s presidential election as anti-democratic persons, saying the state never inflated figures.
He said contrary to such insinuation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) creditably acquitted itself in the conduct of the election, despite the low turnout of voters.
The governor made the remarks shortly after he met with President Buhari to congratulate him on his re-election as President.
According to him, Kano state aspired to give Buhari more votes than was recorded, but that he was more grateful to God that the election was free and fair.
Ganduje who is seeking a second term in office said his re-election was assured, going by the outcome of last Saturday’s election.
“Those who are saying that we could not have got that much; I think they are ignorant of the politics of Kano.
“It is because of the low turnout; let’s wait for the governorship election. My chances are very high, and you can see; the beginning of it is the presidential election; we got Mr President; we gave the highest number of votes.
“All the three Senators are back; they won the elections including the 24 House of Representatives members, they have succeeded; what else are you expecting?
“That is the foundation and another thing is that Mr President has done a lot of work for Nigeria; he has done a lot of work in Kano and we as, the government have done a lot of work for the people of Kano State.
“If there is any negative reaction, we could have seen it from this first election; so that is why I am saying we are heading for a huge success in Kano State come to the governorship election and that of the state House of Assembly,’’ he said.
While congratulating the President for his success at the polls, he said the foundation for the development of a new Nigeria was second to none.
He also told State House correspondents during an interview session that the President was an icon for honesty in Nigeria.
“First of all, I am here in order to express my happiness and congratulate Mr President personally and also to seize the opportunity to thank all Nigerians for voting Mr President for a second time.
“Especially for voting the most honest person in Nigeria because he laid the foundation for the development of a new Nigeria and a man who loves Nigeria more than himself. “A man who believes in a free and fair election.
“I think we are forging ahead in terms of getting it right in Nigeria; so I am here just to congratulate him personally before we come as a group from Kano to congratulate him,” he stated.
