A fresh crisis has erupted within the Kano State chapter of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) after the party reassigned several House of Representatives and State Assembly tickets for 2027 elections initially allocated to members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement led by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to other party members.
According to a report by Daily Trust on Tuesday, the development has exposed deep divisions between the party’s founding members and new entrants aligned with Kwankwaso, raising concerns over the stability of the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
The disagreement centred on an earlier power-sharing arrangement that reportedly allocated 60 per cent of party positions and elective tickets to the Kwankwasiyya bloc and 40 per cent to the original NDC members.
Although the two camps had initially agreed to a consensus arrangement for executives and party candidates, tensions resurfaced less than two weeks after the party released its list of candidates, with founding members accusing the Kwankwasiyya camp of failing to honour the agreed formula.
A document signed by the Kano State NDC Chairman, Hussaini Isah Mairiga, and addressed to the party’s national leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, Kwankwasiyya leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the North-West Zonal Chairman, Alhaji Muhammadu Rabiu Sabo Bakinzuwo, confirmed the changes.
Under the new arrangement, House of Representatives tickets were approved for Barr. Isma’il Idris Sani (Kumbotso), Nasiru Ali Ahmed (Nassarawa), Kabiru Ishaq Sa’id (Kano Municipal), Barr. Dayyabu Jamilu Ibrahim (Doguwa/Tudunwada), Muhammad Hamisu Abubakar (Dawakin Tofa/Rimin Gado/Tofa), Ibrahim Bashir Bango (Sumaila/Takai) and Abdulmajid Isa Umar Mairigar Fata (Gwale).
Adjustments were also made to State Assembly tickets covering Dala, Tarauni, Kumbotso, Ungogo and Dawakin Kudu constituencies.
According to Daily Trust, party sources confirmed that the Kwankwasiyya faction allegedly failed to concede any elective positions to the old party members despite the agreed sharing formula, prompting the NDC leadership to implement its own allocation.
Defending the decision, Kano NDC spokesman Ibrahim Waya said the founding members had repeatedly complained but were ignored.
“You can’t just enter somebody’s house, open his wardrobe and start using his clothes without his consent. We didn’t even take the required 40 per cent approved for us. We only took four Reps seats and seven State Assembly seats,” Waya said during an interview with Siyasarmu TV.
He insisted that the party faction had exercised restraint despite being entitled to more positions.
“If they had listened and given us what we asked for, we would have kept quiet. But now that there is crisis, even the 12 federal and state seats we took are not up to the required 40 per cent, so we will still take more. Now we will even take a Senate seat.”
“We have done our best but the consensus won’t work. There are many seats we already had candidates for before Kwankwaso joined, but now we will take them,” he added.
Waya further alleged that Kano was the only state where the agreed allocation formula was not respected.
However, the spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habibu Saleh Mohammed, dismissed the allegations, insisting that party members were fully involved throughout the consensus process.
“It is surprising hearing them raise this issue close to 10 days after concluding our primaries through consensus. Where were they all this while? It is also not true that they have been trying to reach out for their allocation, but were shut down,” he said.
Mohammed added that the movement was still reviewing the situation and would announce its next line of action at the appropriate time.
Amid growing complaints over its primaries across several states, the NDC National Executive Committee (NEC) has announced a series of reforms aimed at strengthening internal democracy and party discipline.
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the party resolved that governments elected on its platform must consult party structures before making key policy decisions, appointments and implementing major programmes, except for personal staff appointments.
The NEC also approved the establishment of a comprehensive Code of Conduct for party officials and candidates, with the National Legal Adviser mandated to develop its operational framework.
In addition, the party inaugurated a National Reconciliation Committee to engage aggrieved members and resolve disputes arising from recent political activities and internal contests.
The NEC further directed that all affiliated groups and non-governmental organisations linked to the party must operate under its supervision rather than independently.
Reaffirming its long-term vision, the party declared that it is being built as a lasting institution rather than a personality-driven platform or political vehicle, urging members to place loyalty to the party and national interest above individual ambitions.
Political analyst and lecturer at Kano State College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies, Dr Kabiru Sa’id Sufi, warned that the internal crisis could weaken the prospects of the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso presidential ticket in the 2027 elections.
According to him, the dispute stems from complaints by the original NDC members that they were sidelined during the consensus process.
“The ability to resolve the situation and for the two sides to make concessions is what will position the NDC as a stronger political party. But if dissatisfaction continues, it may even affect Kwankwaso’s posture and the chances of the party to perform well in the forthcoming elections,” he said.
Dr Sufi disclosed that some party members were already urging their leaders to consider defecting if their grievances remained unresolved.
He noted that any major defections from Kano, regarded as the party’s strongest base in northern Nigeria, could significantly undermine the Obi-Kwankwaso alliance.
Responding to suggestions that external forces may be fuelling the crisis, the analyst maintained that the dispute is largely self-inflicted.
“It may be about the party’s failure to resolve issues on time. The sooner they resolve it, the better for the NDC at both the state and national levels,” he said.
