A leadership dispute has emerged within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State, with senior party officials accusing former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, of attempting to dominate the party’s structure and sideline other stakeholders.
The allegations were contained in a petition reportedly submitted to the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, by the North-West Vice Chairman of the party, Mohammed Serina, and the Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Mariga.
The party leaders claimed that despite welcoming Kwankwaso and his supporters into the NDC and granting them significant influence, efforts were allegedly being made to take complete control of the party’s structure in Kano.
Speaking on the development, Serina said the disagreement became evident during the state congresses, where concerns emerged over the distribution of power within the party.
According to him, a reconciliation meeting convened by the national leadership had earlier agreed that Kwankwaso and members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement would control 60 per cent of the party structure in Kano, while the remaining 40 per cent would be retained by other stakeholders.
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He, however, alleged that the agreement was not respected during the nomination process for elective positions, claiming that access to nomination forms became a major source of dispute.
Serina alleged that nomination forms were concentrated within the Kwankwasiyya bloc, leaving many party officials and aspirants outside the movement without adequate access to participate in the primaries.
He further claimed that appeals for a more inclusive process were ignored, despite requests that a portion of the nomination forms be allocated to non-Kwankwasiyya members to ensure fair participation.
The North-West vice chairman also alleged that several aspirants seeking tickets for the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and governorship positions were excluded from the process.
He said the development had generated dissatisfaction among party members and prompted formal complaints to the party’s national leadership and the National Working Committee.
According to him, efforts by the national leadership to mediate the dispute, including meetings with Kwankwaso, have yet to produce a lasting resolution.
The aggrieved leaders maintained that no individual or political group should be allowed to monopolise party structures, warning that such a development could weaken internal democracy and unity within the party.
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However, the Kwankwasiyya Movement rejected the allegations, describing them as false and misleading.
A spokesperson for the movement, Habibu Muhammed, said nomination forms were administered solely by the party and not by any political faction.
He maintained that the primary election process was open to all qualified aspirants and that no member was denied the opportunity to obtain nomination forms.
Muhammed added that the complaints surfaced after the primary process had already commenced, insisting that all aspirants were treated fairly.
A source close to the Kwankwaso camp also dismissed the allegations, accusing the complainants of attempting to discredit the primaries due to internal political disagreements.
The source argued that due process was followed in the distribution of nomination forms and described the accusations as politically motivated.
As both sides continue to trade accusations, political observers warn that the dispute could deepen divisions within the NDC in Kano State unless the party’s national leadership intervenes to resolve the matter.
