A fresh crisis has erupted within the National Democratic Congress in Kano State following allegations by the party’s North-West leadership that former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is attempting to hijack the party structure and sideline members outside the Kwankwasiyya movement.
The allegations were contained in a petition jointly issued by the party’s North-West Vice Chairman, Mohammed Serina, and Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Mariga, who said they had formally drawn the attention of the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson, to the development.
The party officials claimed that, though Kwankwaso was welcomed into the NDC and granted substantial influence in Kano State, he allegedly sought total control of the party structure at the expense of founding members and other stakeholders.
Serina explained that disagreements first surfaced during the party’s state congresses when Kwankwaso allegedly moved to take complete control of the Kano chapter.
He said, “Following our confirmation, we were entrusted with the responsibility of building and strengthening the party’s structures across our respective jurisdictions.
“We diligently discharged this responsibility until the entry of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his supporters into the party.
“Prior to his joining, we held several discussions with him and facilitated his admission into the party. Upon his arrival, the national leader directed us to work closely with him, accord him due respect, and provide him with the necessary support to strengthen the party.
“During the state congresses, disagreements arose when Senator Kwankwaso sought to assume complete control of the party structure in Kano State. We resisted this move in the interest of fairness and inclusiveness.
“Consequently, the national leader invited all parties to a meeting at his residence, where an amicable resolution was reached. It was agreed that Senator Kwankwaso and his supporters would control 60 per cent of the party structure in Kano State, while the party retained 40 per cent.”
The officials alleged that despite the agreement, tensions resurfaced during the nomination process when forms for elective offices were distributed.
Serina claimed that after the forms were handed over to Kwankwaso, he allegedly refused to make them available to party members who were not members of the Kwankwasiyya movement.
“Unfortunately, despite repeated engagements, Senator Kwankwaso refused to allow access to nomination forms by party members outside the Kwankwasiyya group.
“More troubling was his refusal to allocate nomination forms to the state chairman, myself, or any other party officer who was not affiliated with the Kwankwasiyya group,” the statement read.
The party leaders alleged that none of the 40 state House of Assembly forms, 24 House of Representatives forms, three senatorial forms or the governorship form was allocated to aspirants outside the Kwankwasiyya fold.
The national vice chair further claimed that Kwankwaso refused to allocate nomination forms to the state chairman, the zonal vice chairman and other party officers who were not affiliated with his political movement.
Serina said he personally appealed to the former governor to release at least five state assembly forms and seven House of Representatives forms to other stakeholders, while leaving all senatorial positions under his control, but the request was allegedly rejected.
The officials said they were forced to subsequently petition Dickson and the party’s National Working Committee, warning that the exclusion of non-Kwankwasiyya members was breeding disaffection within the party.
According to them, Dickson met Kwankwaso on two occasions and appealed to him to accommodate other stakeholders, while the NWC also sent a delegation to seek a political resolution.
Despite these interventions, Serina alleged that Kwankwaso remained unwilling to compromise and insisted on total control of the party structure in Kano State.
“It is our position that no individual possesses an exclusive monopoly over political wisdom or electoral viability in Kano State,” he stated.
The party leaders further claimed that prominent politicians who joined the NDC independently of Kwankwaso’s influence, including former House of Representatives member Nasiru Ahmed and former Kano State Governor, Kabiru Gaya, were among those affected by the dispute over nominations.