The furore generated by the participation of two governors from the country’s neighbouring Niger Republic in the campaign of Candidate of the ruling All Progessive Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari in Kano state, is still raging with the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) calling for his exclusion in the presidential election.

The opposition party also accused President Buhari and the APC of compromising the nation’s territorial integrity, noting that its action indicated grave danger to national security and the sanctity of the electoral process.

That this is coming days after the government was livid at statements from the US, UK and European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM) expressing concern on the suspension meted to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, warning that against any foreign interference in its domestic affairs. .

The governors of Zinder, Mr Issa Moussa and Maradi, Mr Zakiri Umar were at the campaign according to a tweet by Mr Salihu Yakasai, media aide of Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano, on Thursday.

“H.E @GovUmarGanduje with his deputy H.E Dr Nasiru Gawuna, His former Dep H.E Prof Hafiz Abubakar, Minister of Interior Abdurrahman Dambazau & that of Water Resources Kazaure, Governors of Zinder and Maradi from Niger Republic, & others getting ready to receive @MBuhari #PMBinKano,” Yakasai tweeted.

It is a bit fuggy why the governors from Niger Republic were part of Ganduje’s team or the role they may be playing in the campaign. President Buhari recently approved a rail link between Daura and Maradi in Niger Republic at a time the government had virtually put the proposed Lagos-Calabar rail line in the cooler, setting the wagging of many tongues.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday however called for the disqualification of President Buhari from the 2019 presidential race, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of importing foreign nationals into the country to influence the forthcoming general elections.

The party’s National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus, made the allegation at the Pa Oruta Ngele Township Stadium, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, venue of the party’s presidential campaign flag-off.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to disqualify both Buhari and APC from the February 16th general election for the alleged infraction.

Secondus described as shameful, the incidents in Kano on Thursday during the APC presidential campaign where governors and other persons from neighbouring countries, especially Niger Republic, reportedly attended the rally and openly campaigned for the President.

He said such action by APC is tantamount to the importation of foreign nationals into the country to influence the elections and called on INEC to disqualify the party from the elections.

“Let me warn INEC that what we witnessed yesterday is the worst that we have seen in the country where people from other countries like Niger and Chad came to influence the election in Nigeria.”

“We ask INEC to disqualify Buhari for bringing in machineries to influence the election. INEC better be warned that you cannot rig this election. We have already won this election,” Secondus said.

But a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Nuhu Ribadu, says the presence of governors from the Niger Republic at the party’s presidential campaign in Kano State does not violate the laws of the land.

Ribadu, who is the director, Field Operations for the APC Campaign Council, noted that Nigeria operates a free movement policy.

He told reporters on Friday in Abuja that no one should be deprived the right to free movement within the country.

“This is a free country; it is the constitutional right of everybody to be where he wants to be,” the APC chieftain said, adding, “You have no right to contain anybody from doing what he wants to do.”

He stated further, “People from West Africa are free to move into Nigeria. We have a protocol; we have an agreement that you don’t need a visa to come to Nigeria if you are from West Africa.”

Ribadu, pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),  insisted that the governors from the Niger Republic were only supporting President Muhammadu Buhari because they believed in him.

He stressed that although their presence would have no effect on the presidential election, they have not committed any crime by attending the President’s re-election campaign.

“For sure, I know they (the Nigeriens) don’t have to vote. They are not going to vote on that day,” the APC chieftain said.

He added, “But for you as a free human being, as a free West African, as a free African, believing in somebody who has done extremely well; to decide to come and identify yourself with what you believe in, I don’t think there is any crime committed.”

Ribadu affirmed that it was wrong for anybody or group to interfere with the affairs of the President and that of the ruling party, especially when they acted with their constitutional right.

He said, “You have no right as a person, as a Nigerian, to interfere with his (Buhari) fundamental right to be where he wants to be, to identify with his friends.”

Deploring the statements from the three foreign mission, the Presidency in a statement signed by Mr Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the President, “notes with interest the coordinated statements of the US, UK and EU linking the suspension of CJN Onnoghen to the conduct of the upcoming elections. We appreciate the concerns voiced by the three statements and accept that the authors of the statements believe they were acting in friendship toward Nigeria with regard to making the statements.”

“The statements by the three seem more driven by unfounded assumptions and to be honest, a certain condescension to this African democracy. This is unfortunate. But this gives us an opportunity to clarify some points in the hope that these three friends reach a deeper understanding of the situation,” Shehu said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also “rejected interference in Nigeria’s internal affairs by representatives of foreign countries, saying true friends of Nigeria must be working hand-in-hand with the country to fight corruption and not dividing the nation.”

The ministry said it was deeply concerned about statements by Embassy of the United States of America, the High Commission of the United Kingdom as well as the European Union Election Observer Mission, over the suspension of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, who was accused of non-declaration of assets.

In a statement by the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Mr George Ehidiamen Edokpa, the ministry said such statements are not welcomed as they made wrong insinuations about election rigging, while also siding with the opposition and subtly supporting corruption.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria notes with deep concern statements made by representatives of foreign Governments and international Organisations resident in Nigeria, notably the Embassy of the United States of America, the High Commission of the United Kingdom as well as the European Union Election Observer Mission, regarding the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), which demonstrate serious and unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Nigeria.”

“The various statements, especially of those referred to above, appear prejudicial and signify alignment with the opposition and endorsement of its position that the ruling party, and by extension the Federal Government of Nigeria, is working on rigging the forthcoming elections in Nigeria. These statements also portend tolerance for corrupt acts and downplay the anticorruption crusade of the Buhari Administration, knowing fully that the suspended CJN had not denied the charges against him and that probity requires of him to step aside while the case is under scrutiny.”

“It is pertinent to underscore the unfortunate fact that statements, as referred above, are inimical to the wellbeing and development of Nigeria, given their nuisance value of promoting sectional and religious divide in the country, anarchy and retrogression. Now, more than any other time, Nigerians and true friends of Nigeria should be working towards repositioning Nigeria to realize her potential and sustainably provide the leadership expected of her, ” the Foreign Ministry said.