FORMER Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reportedly threatened to leave the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following the replacement of several candidates submitted by the Kwankwasiyya faction in Kano State.
News Point Nigeria reports that the development is said to be linked to efforts by the party to enforce a pre-existing 60/40 power-sharing arrangement under which the Kwankwasiyya bloc was allocated 60 per cent of party positions and elective tickets, while the original NDC structure retained 40 per cent.
According to a document sighted by News Point Nigeria and signed by the Kano State NDC Chairman, Hon. Hussaini Isah Mairiga, the party reviewed and replaced a number of candidates earlier submitted by the Kwankwasiyya faction over what was described as the need to comply with the agreed sharing formula.
Mairiga stated that the adjustments were made to reflect the earlier understanding reached on the distribution of party offices and elective positions between the existing NDC structure and the Kwankwasiyya movement.
The document was copied to the National Leader of the opposition party, Seriake Dickson, Kwankwaso, and the NDC North-West Zonal Chairman.
Under the revised list, the party approved Barrister Isma’il Idris Sani for Kumbotso Federal Constituency, Nasiru Ali Ahmed for Nassarawa Federal Constituency, Kabiru Ishaq Sa’id for Kano Municipal Federal Constituency, Barrister Dayyabu Jamilu Ibrahim for Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, Muhammad Hamisu Abubakar for Dawakin Tofa/Rimin Gado/Tofa Federal Constituency, Ibrahim Bashir Bango for Sumaila/Takai Federal Constituency, and Abdulmajid Isa Umar Mairigar Fata for Gwale Federal Constituency.
Adjustments were also made to Kano State House of Assembly tickets in Dala, Tarauni, Kumbotso, Ungogo and Dawakin Kudu constituencies.
The NDC maintained that there was a standing agreement providing for elective positions and party offices to be shared on a 60-40 basis, with the Kwankwasiyya bloc receiving 60 per cent and the original party structure retaining 40 per cent.
The emerging dispute comes barely days after a major political development within the party. On May 31, the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, officially named Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his vice-presidential running mate for the 2027 general elections.
The announcement confirmed a significant political realignment ahead of the polls, positioning both leaders as the party’s presidential and vice-presidential ticket for the forthcoming election.
With the confirmation of the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, both politicians are expected to jointly spearhead the NDC’s campaign into the 2027 race, bringing together two influential political blocs with strong support bases across the country.
The alliance has been widely viewed as one of the most consequential opposition partnerships ahead of the next election cycle, reshaping early expectations for the 2027 presidential contest.
However, the latest disagreement over candidate substitutions and the implementation of the power-sharing formula has raised fresh questions about the cohesion of the coalition and its ability to manage internal interests as preparations for the elections gather momentum.