By AbdulSalam Muhammad

KANO—Last minute withdrawal by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ghali Umar Na’Abba from Kano Central Senatorial District, paved way for the emergence of  General Abacha’s nephew, Alhaji Basheer Lado, in a bitterly contested primary election held in Kano, yesterday.

Na’Abba’s sudden withdrawal shocked supporters in a race the former Speaker intended to re-launch himself to political limelight following a devastating defeat in 2003 election.

The former Speaker  who withdrew from the race at the eleventh hour, however, gave no reason for his decision in a letter sent to the Chairman, National Assembly Electoral Committee, Kano, Senator Adesheye Ogunlewe.

Vanguard learnt that Ghali’s sudden withdrawal from the hotly contested primary  where ‘cash’ allegedly played a significant role,  was adopted as last minute strategy to ward off imminent defeat.

Vanguard learnt that suspected political thugs disrupted the primaries on Saturday night when they overwhelmed security agents and destroyed electoral materials setting up a re-run on yesterday.

Electoral c’ttee chair reacts

Senator Ogunlewe, in a chat with journalists in Kano acknowledged receipt of Na’aba’s withdrawal letter.
The former Minister of Works revealed that the incumbent Senator, Bello Hayatu Gwarzo from Kano North defeated the former Managing Director of Urban Development Bank, Alhaji Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, to clinch the ticket.

Ogunlewe added that Alhaji Aliyu Saidu Bebeji beat Alhaji Yusuf Ado Kibiya alongside Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Yammedi and Alhaji Nura Mohammad Dankandai, who was a former Commissioner for Information under  former Governor, Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

In the House of Representatives Primaries, the Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Mr. Faruk Lawan, retained his ticket for Shanono/Bagwai Federal Constituency election.