Chidinma Iroegbu
Fresh tensions have emerged within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following disagreements over candidate substitutions linked to the Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano State.
The crisis has intensified amid reports that former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, may reconsider his continued stay in the party over the dispute.
NDC officials in the North-West warned that the internal conflict could weaken party unity and affect preparations for future elections.
In a statement, North-West Vice Chairman, Mohammed Rabiu Serina, and Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Isa Mariga, accused some interests of attempting to dominate party structures in Kano.
According to the party leaders, an earlier political arrangement allocated 60 per cent of the Kano structure to the Kwankwasiyya bloc and 40 per cent to other stakeholders.
The officials alleged that disagreements resurfaced during the nomination process for state and federal legislative candidates in Kano State.
“We resisted attempts to exclude other stakeholders in the interest of fairness and inclusivity,” Serina stated while defending the party’s actions.
The NDC leadership also dismissed allegations of financial misconduct, insisting that all nomination payments were processed through official party accounts.
Meanwhile, former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, advised Kwankwaso to leave the party if he believes he is being marginalised by the national leadership.
In a related development, the party’s new resolutions placing affiliated groups under NDC control have sparked criticism from supporters of Peter Obi, with members of the Obidient Movement warning against attempts to weaken independent grassroots structures within the party.