A fresh political storm is brewing within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is reportedly considering leaving the party following a dispute over the replacement of candidates linked to his Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano State.
The latest development comes amid deepening internal tensions within the party, which had earlier been masked by a fragile power-sharing arrangement between the Kwankwasiyya bloc and the wider NDC establishment. A parallel controversy had earlier erupted within the party, with senior officials accusing Kwankwaso of attempting to dominate party structures and control the candidate selection processes in Kano.
However, in a statement by the NDC North-West Vice Chairman, Mohammed Rabiu Serina, and the Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Isa Mariga, the leadership warned that the internal crisis could undermine party unity and credibility ahead of future elections.
According to Serina, the dispute traces back to Kwankwaso’s integration into the party structure, which was initially approved under the directive of the National Leader, Seriake Dickson, who reportedly urged stakeholders to accommodate him in the interest of party strength and cohesion. However, tensions reportedly escalated during subsequent congresses when Kwankwaso was said to have sought full control of the Kano party machinery.
The situation was eventually managed through an internal power-sharing formula that reportedly allocated 60 percent of the party structure to his camp and 40 percent to the broader party establishment. Despite this arrangement, party officials allege that the crisis resurfaced during the nomination process for state and federal legislative positions, with access to nomination forms effectively skewed in favour of individuals aligned with the Kwankwasiyya movement, to the exclusion of other aspirants.
“We resisted attempts to exclude other stakeholders in the interest of fairness and inclusivity,” Serina was quoted to say, adding that repeated interventions by the National Working Committee failed to resolve the dispute. The statement further alleged that Kwankwaso rejected proposals aimed at broadening nomination access across party blocs, insisting instead on retaining significant influence over candidate selection in the state.
Nevertheless, party leaders have warned that no individual or faction should dominate internal processes or turn party structures into instruments of exclusion, arguing that such practices could weaken internal democracy. They further dismissed allegations of financial impropriety and denied any personal financial dealings involving Kwankwaso, insisting that all nomination-related payments were made through official party accounts.
Against this backdrop, the NDC leadership in Kano recently moved to replace several candidates earlier submitted by the Kwankwasiyya bloc, citing an alleged breach of the agreed power-sharing arrangement. According to internal party documents, the adjustment was made to restore balance after concerns were raised about the initial list of nominees.
Meanwhile, in a post on his verified X handle yesterday, in reaction to the candidate replacement issue, a former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has advised Kwankwaso to leave the party if he feels he is being treated unfairly. Ahmad urged Kwankwaso to leave the party and pursue his political ambition on another platform if he genuinely believes he has been treated unfairly by the national leadership, constrained or marginalised.
In another development, the NDC and supporters of its Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, popularly known as the Obidient Movement, are at loggerheads over a fresh set of resolutions that the party said are aimed at strengthening internal structures. The resolutions, announced by the National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, were adopted at the party’s second National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
Among the decisions reached, the NDC reaffirmed the principle of party supremacy, stating that governments elected on its platform must consult party structures on programmes, policies and appointments, except for personal staff appointments. The NDC also resolved that all affiliated groups and non-governmental organisations must operate under its guidance and control, rather than function independently of its established structures.
Among others, the NEC approved the development of a code of conduct for party officials and candidates, inaugurated a national reconciliation committee to address grievances among members, and introduced stricter financial accountability measures for party officers and candidates.
However, the resolutions have triggered criticism from the Obidient Movement, which contended that the measures could diminish the independence of grassroots groups built around the support for Peter Obi. The critics particularly objected to placing affiliated groups under party control, saying it amounts to an attempt to bring independent support structures under the authority of the party leadership. They also interpreted the party’s declaration that it was being built as “an institution, not a personality cult, political movement or Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV)” as an indirect reference to Obi and the Obidient Movement.
