A fresh leadership crisis has engulfed the National Democratic Congress in Kano State, following allegations by the party’s North-West leadership that former Kano State governor, , is attempting to seize control of the party structure and marginalise members outside the Kwankwasiyya movement.
The accusations were contained in a petition jointly signed by the party’s North-West Vice Chairman, Mohammed Serina, and the Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Mariga.
The duo said they had formally notified the party’s National Leader, , about the development.
According to the party officials, Kwankwaso was warmly received into the NDC and granted significant influence in Kano after joining the party.
However, they alleged that he later moved to dominate the party’s structure at the expense of founding members and other stakeholders.
Serina stated that tensions first emerged during the state congresses when the former governor allegedly sought complete control of the party’s Kano chapter.
He explained that party leaders resisted the move, insisting on an inclusive arrangement that would accommodate all interests.
He disclosed that following intervention by the national leadership, an agreement was reached under which Kwankwaso and his supporters would control 60 per cent of the party structure in Kano, while the remaining 40 per cent would be retained by other party stakeholders.
The dispute, however, allegedly resurfaced during the distribution of nomination forms for elective positions. Serina claimed that after the forms were entrusted to Kwankwaso, members outside the Kwankwasiyya movement were denied access to them.
He alleged that neither party executives nor aspirants unaffiliated with the movement received nomination forms for state assembly, House of Representatives, senatorial or governorship contests.
According to him, appeals for a more inclusive process were rejected despite efforts to reach a compromise.
He said he personally proposed that a number of state assembly and House of Representatives forms be made available to other stakeholders while allowing Kwankwaso’s camp to retain control of senatorial nominations, but the suggestion was reportedly turned down.
The aggrieved officials said they subsequently petitioned the party’s National Working Committee and Dickson, warning that the exclusion of non-Kwankwasiyya members was creating widespread dissatisfaction within the party.
They further claimed that Dickson held separate meetings with Kwankwaso in a bid to resolve the dispute, while the NWC also dispatched a delegation to broker peace.
Despite those interventions, Serina alleged that the former governor remained determined to exercise total control over the party structure in Kano.
The party leaders also alleged that several prominent politicians who joined the NDC independently of Kwankwaso, including former House of Representatives member Nasiru Ahmed and former Kano State governor, were affected by the controversy surrounding the nomination process.
They further accused Kwankwaso of threatening to leave the party if he was not granted complete authority over its Kano operations, insisting that membership of a political movement should not determine access to opportunities within the party.
Responding to the allegations, the Kwankwasiyya Movement dismissed the claims as baseless.
The movement’s spokesman, Habibu Muhammed, maintained that no aspirant was denied the opportunity to obtain nomination forms, stressing that the forms were issued by the party and not by the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Muhammed described the accusations as unfortunate, particularly at a time when party primaries had already commenced.
He insisted that all interested aspirants were given equal access to participate in the process and denied any attempt to exclude members.
A Kwankwaso ally and former chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party, who spoke anonymously, also rejected the allegations.
He accused the party officials of raising false concerns after their alleged activities ahead of the primaries came under scrutiny.
The source said the accusations were intended to create unnecessary tension, adding that Kwankwaso’s camp had no intention of escalating the dispute further.
The controversy has heightened tensions within the NDC in Kano, raising concerns over internal cohesion as the party prepares for future electoral contests.