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Former House of Representatives member Sha’aban Ibrahim-Sharada has allegedly filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order to replace the National Democratic Congress, NDC, candidate for Kano Municipal, Yusuf Kofar Mata.
The suit, marked FHC/ABI/CS/1633/2028, was reportedly filed on July 24, 2026.
Mr Sharada is seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise him as the candidate of the NDC for the Kano Municipal federal constituency, according to the originating summons cited in the matter.
Sources familiar with the development alleged that Mr Sharada did not purchase the NDC nomination form or participate in the party’s primary election that produced Kofar Mata.
They further alleged that the former lawmaker sought to secure the ticket through a process outside the party’s nomination exercise.
The development has reportedly triggered a dispute within the Kano chapter of the NDC, with allegations that the state chairman, Hussaini Mairiga, wrote multiple letters to the Kano State office of INEC nominating different candidates.
Sources claimed that attempts to have Mr Sharada’s name entered into the INEC candidate portal were unsuccessful, prompting the former lawmaker to approach the Federal High Court.
According to the originating summons, the suit was brought pursuant to Sections 6(6), 36 and 285(9) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, as well as Sections 29(1) and (2), 31, 33, 84(1) and (2), and 88(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
Mr Sharada is listed as the plaintiff, while the NDC and INEC are named as the first and second respondents, respectively.
The former lawmaker had earlier contested for the Kano Central senatorial ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC, but lost the party’s primary election to former Kano State governor Ibrahim Shekarau, according to the account.
The latest development has, therefore, introduced another layer of uncertainty into the opposition contest for the Kano Municipal federal constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.
The allegations that Sharada sought to replace the NDC’s duly nominated candidate without participating in the party’s primary process have not been independently established.
When contacted for his reaction, Mr Sharada did not respond to calls and messages from our correspondent.
