NDC Kano crisis Kwankwaso deepens as party leaders accuse Rabiu Kwankwaso of attempting to hijack Kano structure amid internal disputes

A fresh internal crisis has erupted within the National Democratic Congress in Kano State following allegations by senior party officials that former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is attempting to dominate the party’s structure and sideline members outside the Kwankwasiyya political movement.

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The allegations were contained in a petition jointly signed by the party’s North-West Vice Chairman, Mohammed Serina, and Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Mariga, who said the matter had been formally escalated to the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson.

According to the petition, Kwankwaso was welcomed into the party and initially given significant influence in Kano State, but later allegedly moved to take full control of the state structure at the expense of founding members and other stakeholders.

Serina said tensions first emerged during the state congresses when disagreements broke out over the control of party structures in Kano.

“Following our confirmation, we were entrusted with the responsibility of building and strengthening the party’s structures across our respective jurisdictions,” he said.

“We diligently discharged this responsibility until the entry of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his supporters into the party.”

He explained that although an internal resolution reportedly allocated 60 per cent of the Kano structure to Kwankwaso’s group and 40 per cent to other stakeholders, the arrangement allegedly broke down during the nomination process.

According to the petitioners, Kwankwaso allegedly withheld nomination forms from party members not aligned with the Kwankwasiyya movement, effectively restricting participation in the electoral process.

“Unfortunately, despite repeated engagements, Senator Kwankwaso refused to allow access to nomination forms by party members outside the Kwankwasiyya group,” Serina alleged.

The officials further claimed that aspirants seeking tickets for various elective positions, including the governorship, National Assembly and State Assembly, were affected by the alleged exclusion.

They warned that the situation was creating growing dissatisfaction within the party, prompting repeated interventions from the national leadership.

Serina said Seriake Dickson had met with Kwankwaso on multiple occasions in an attempt to broker peace, while the National Working Committee also sent delegations to mediate the dispute.

Despite these efforts, the petitioners alleged that Kwankwaso remained unwilling to compromise, insisting on maintaining control over the party’s Kano structure.

“It is our position that no individual possesses an exclusive monopoly over political wisdom or electoral viability in Kano State,” Serina stated.

They further claimed that several prominent politicians who joined the party independently of Kwankwaso’s influence were also affected by the internal dispute.

The group warned that continued exclusion could deepen divisions within the party ahead of future elections.

However, the Kwankwasiyya Movement dismissed the allegations, insisting that all aspirants were given equal opportunity to participate in the party’s nomination process.

Speaking in response, spokesperson Habibu Muhammed said the claims were unfounded and misleading.

“Nobody was denied sale of forms because it is the party and not the Kwankwasiyya that sells forms,” he said.

He added that the nomination process had already progressed through party primaries and accused the petitioners of attempting to stir controversy after the fact.

A senior Kwankwaso loyalist, who spoke anonymously, also rejected the allegations, describing them as politically motivated and untrue.

As tensions continue to simmer, the NDC Kano Crisis Kwankwaso dispute is emerging as a major test of internal cohesion within the party, with both sides maintaining sharply conflicting narratives over control, fairness and inclusion in the state chapter.

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Political observers warn that if not resolved quickly, the rift could undermine the party’s strength in Kano State ahead of upcoming electoral contests.