Political analyst Tony-Uche Ezekwelu has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the 2019 Kano State governorship election, stating that public perception at the time strongly favored Abba Kabir Yusuf as the winner.
Ezekwelu made the remarks during an interview on Trust TV, where he reflected on the political climate and widespread reactions that followed the closely contested election between Yusuf and the then-incumbent governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
During the interview, Ezekwelu said, “Everybody including myself felt he won the election because from every indication, it seems he won the election. And in the end, Ganduje being the incumbent and others had their way.” His statement underscores the lingering debate over the credibility of the electoral process and the influence of incumbency in Nigerian politics.
The 2019 Kano governorship election remains one of the most hotly debated contests in Nigeria’s recent political history. The initial results declared the election inconclusive, leading to a supplementary poll that eventually produced Ganduje as the winner. However, the process was marred by allegations of irregularities, voter intimidation, and manipulation, which fueled public skepticism.
Ezekwelu’s comments echo the sentiments of many observers who believed that Yusuf, the candidate of the opposition at the time, had secured a decisive mandate before the supplementary election altered the outcome. Analysts have often pointed to the advantages of incumbency, including control of state structures and influence over electoral dynamics, as critical factors in the final result.