Kwankwaso Hints at NDC Exit Over Candidate Substitutions Amid 60/40 Sharing Dispute
Fresh tensions have emerged within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following the replacement of several candidates initially submitted by the Kwankwasiyya faction in Kano State, a development that has reportedly sparked concerns of a possible fallout between the party and the group led by former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
According to reports, the NDC leadership in Kano approved a revised list of candidates after citing an alleged breach of an existing power-sharing arrangement between the party’s original structure and the Kwankwasiyya bloc.
A document signed by the Kano State Chairman of the party, Hon. Hussaini Isah Mairiga, stated that the adjustments were made to align with a prior agreement on the distribution of elective positions and party offices. Copies of the document were reportedly forwarded to the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, Kwankwaso, and the NDC North-West Zonal Chairman.
Under the revised arrangement, Barrister Isma’il Idris Sani was approved for Kumbotso Federal Constituency, while Nasiru Ali Ahmed, Kabiru Ishaq Sa’id, Barrister Dayyabu Jamilu Ibrahim, Muhammad Hamisu Abubakar, Ibrahim Bashir Bango, and Abdulmajid Isa Umar Mairigar Fata were cleared for various federal constituencies across Kano State.
The party also made changes to several State House of Assembly tickets covering Dala, Tarauni, Kumbotso, Ungogo, and Dawakin Kudu constituencies.
NDC officials maintained that the alterations were necessary to uphold the standing 60-40 power-sharing agreement, under which the Kwankwasiyya bloc is entitled to 60 percent of elective positions and party offices, while the existing party structure retains 40 percent.
The development has further fueled speculation about growing disagreements within the party, with reports suggesting that Kwankwaso may reconsider his relationship with the NDC if members of his political bloc continue to be affected by candidate substitutions.
