The Kano State chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Usaini Isa Mai Riga, has declared that the party structure will not be handed over to former presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
NewsWatch Nigeria reports that Mai Riga’s statement comes barely 24 hours after Kwankwaso defected to the party and obtained his membership card.
In an interview with Daily Post on Monday, Mai Riga said the current leadership would resist any attempt by Kwankwaso to take control of the party, stressing that it is unacceptable.
According to the chairman, efforts to reach a common ground with Kwankwaso ahead of his entry into the party had broken down, despite holding two separate meetings to discuss leadership arrangements.
He said, “He wants us to hand over the entire party to him, despite the sacrifices and time we invested in nurturing it when it had little or no attention.
“This will not happen. We will pursue all legitimate avenues to ensure that Kwankwaso does not take over the party structure from us.”
Mai Riga also revealed the decision to suspend the planned state congress was based on instructions from the party’s national leadership, citing the timing of Kwankwaso’s entry, despite similar congresses proceeding in other states.
He stated, “We were asked not to hold our congress because there are plans to hand over the party to Kwankwaso, that is why you see me here instead of at the congress venue. We will not allow the rights of party members to be undermined. We will do everything possible because we do not support injustice.”
Mai Riga added that the former governor has yet to formally engage with the state party leadership.
