Fresh Crisis Erupts In Kano NDC Over Alleged Kwankwaso Hijack Plot

A fresh political tension has emerged within the Kano State chapter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following allegations that former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is attempting to take control of the party’s structure in the state.

According to Ireporter Online, the claims were made in a petition submitted to the NDC National Leader, Seriake Dickson, by the party’s North-West Vice Chairman, Mohammed Serina, and Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Mariga. The petition accused Kwankwaso of sidelining party members who are not aligned with the Kwankwasiyya movement and attempting to centralize control of party affairs.

Serina explained that the party initially welcomed Kwankwaso and his supporters into the NDC following directives from the national leadership to collaborate with him in strengthening the party. However, he alleged that the former governor later sought to dominate the party’s structure in Kano State.

He further stated that disagreements first arose during the state congresses, where Kwankwaso was accused of pushing for full control of the party structure. According to him, the matter was later mediated by the national leader, resulting in an agreement that allocated 60 percent of the Kano party structure to Kwankwaso and his supporters, while the remaining 40 percent was retained by other stakeholders.

The petition also alleged that tensions resurfaced during the nomination process, with claims that Kwankwaso restricted access to nomination forms to members outside the Kwankwasiyya group. It further alleged that several aspirants, including party officials and independent entrants, were denied access to contest forms across various elective positions.

Serina maintained that efforts to resolve the issue amicably, including appeals for broader inclusion in the distribution of nomination forms, were rejected. He warned that excluding non-Kwankwasiyya members was deepening internal divisions and undermining party unity, stressing that no individual or group should dominate political participation in Kano State.

The petition also claimed that some notable political figures who joined the party independently were affected by the alleged dispute over nomination forms. It further alleged that Kwankwaso had threatened to leave the party if he was not granted full control of its Kano structure.

In response, the Kwankwasiyya Movement dismissed the allegations, insisting that no aspirant was denied access to nomination forms. A spokesperson for the movement, Habibu Muhammed, stated that party primaries had already commenced and that the claims were misleading and untimely.

He maintained that nomination forms were issued by the party and not controlled by any political movement, adding that all processes were conducted transparently up to the consensus stage. He urged stakeholders to avoid escalating internal disagreements.

A loyalist of Kwankwaso, who spoke anonymously, also rejected the allegations, describing them as unfounded and politically motivated, insisting that due process was followed during the party’s nomination exercise.