A fresh crisis has emerged within the Kano State chapter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following allegations by senior party officials that former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is attempting to take control of the party structure and sideline members who are not affiliated with the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
The development has sparked tensions within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections, with some leaders warning that the situation could undermine unity and inclusiveness within the NDC in Kano State.
‘The Historica Nigeria’ gathered that the allegations were contained in a petition submitted to the National Leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, by the party’s North-West Vice Chairman, Mohammed Serina, and the Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Mariga.
According to Serina, party officials initially welcomed Kwankwaso and his supporters into the NDC and were directed by the national leadership to work closely with him to strengthen the party across Kano State and the North-West region.
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He, however, alleged that disagreements began during the state congresses when Kwankwaso sought what he described as complete control of the party structure in Kano.
“During the state congresses, disagreements arose when Senator Kwankwaso sought to assume complete control of the party structure in Kano State. We resisted this move in the interest of fairness and inclusiveness,” Serina stated.
He explained that following intervention by the party leadership, a meeting was convened at Dickson’s residence where an agreement was reportedly reached granting Kwankwaso and his supporters 60 per cent of the party structure in Kano State, while the existing party leadership retained 40 per cent.
The crisis, however, allegedly resurfaced during the nomination process for elective positions.
The party leaders claimed that nomination forms handed over for distribution were allegedly not made available to aspirants outside the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
According to the petition, none of the available nomination forms for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and governorship positions were allocated to party members who were not affiliated with Kwankwaso’s political movement.
“Despite repeated engagements, Senator Kwankwaso refused to allow access to nomination forms by party members outside the Kwankwasiyya group,” the petition reportedly stated.
The officials further alleged that appeals for a more inclusive distribution of nomination forms were rejected.
Serina said he personally requested that at least a number of State Assembly and House of Representatives nomination forms be allocated to other stakeholders within the party, while leaving the senatorial positions under Kwankwaso’s control, but the request was not granted.
The party leaders warned that the alleged exclusion of non-Kwankwasiyya members was creating dissatisfaction among stakeholders and could affect the party’s cohesion ahead of future elections.
“It is our position that no individual possesses an exclusive monopoly over political wisdom or electoral viability in Kano State,” Serina stated.
The petition also alleged that several prominent politicians who joined the NDC independently of Kwankwaso’s influence were affected by the nomination dispute.
The leaders further accused the former governor of threatening to leave the party if he was not granted full control of the Kano structure.
“We are not members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, and we cannot accept a situation in which membership of a particular political group becomes the sole criterion for participation, recognition, or eligibility for elective office within our party,” the petition added.
However, the Kwankwasiyya Movement has strongly denied the allegations.
Speaking on the matter, the movement’s spokesman, Habibu Muhammed, described the claims as unfounded and insisted that no aspirant was denied access to nomination forms.
According to him, the sale and distribution of nomination forms were handled by the party and not by the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
“Nobody was denied sale of forms because it is the party and not the Kwankwasiyya that sells forms. We were all there and witnessed everything up to the consensus day,” he said.
Muhammed expressed concern that the allegations were surfacing after party primaries had already commenced, stressing that the movement had no reason to prevent qualified party members from participating in the process.
A Kwankwaso loyalist, who spoke anonymously, also dismissed the allegations, claiming that certain individuals were unhappy because their activities during the nomination process were being scrutinised.
The unfolding dispute has exposed growing divisions within the Kano chapter of the NDC, raising concerns among observers about the party’s ability to maintain internal unity as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections continue to gather momentum.