Signs that Kano State may become a theatre of electoral violence in the run-up to the 2019 election appeared Tuesday as a rally slated by the incumbent All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the state turned bloody.

Supporters of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje turned out in their thousands but rather than bearing the usual broom, the emblem of the party, they carried clubs and other dangerous weapons.

Recall that the faction led by former governor of the state, Rabiu Kwankwaso, was to hold its own rally on the same date but had to shelve it for security reasons.

“You can imagine what would have happened if Kwankwaso had not cancelled his own rally in the state scheduled for today, Kano would have been covered in blood”, said a man named Sule who claimed to be a neutral in the APC-PDP rivalry in the state.

However, the well-attended still turned bloody as there were pockets of mild clashes. An unidentified man was pictured holding to his bloodied head.

Meanwhile, Ganduje says that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will emerge victorious in the upcoming local government election in the state.

Ganduje said this on Tuesday while presenting APC flags to 16 Kano south chairmanship canditates at Kwanar Dan-Gora in Kiru Local Government area.

The governor urged the aspirants and supporters to be more concerned about forging a united front and ensuring that the APC remained the party to beat in the Feb. 10 local polls in the state.

Ganduje thanked them for their loyalty to the party, especially since after the primary that produced him as candidate.

The governor, who also received defectors ‎to the party, urged them to work towards its progress and be law-abiding.

“We want you to shun all differences and accommodate the new entrants into the party.

“With the strength of the party in the state, APC will win the local government election,” Ganduje said.

Gov. Ganduje has launched the Kano North and Central senatorial districts campaign preparatory to the council polls.