Crisis Looms as NDC Kano rejects alleged plan to hand over party structure to Kwankwaso

A leadership dispute has surfaced in the Kano State chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following claims that the party structure was being positioned for takeover by former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

The state chairman, Usaini Isa Mai Riga, said discussions on Kwankwaso’s entry into the party had stalled after two meetings failed to resolve disagreements over control of the state structure.

He accused the former governor’s camp of seeking full control of the party in Kano.

“He wants us to hand over the entire party to him, despite the sacrifices we made when the party had little or no presence,” Mai Riga said.

He ruled out any transfer of leadership, insisting the current executives would not be displaced.

“This will not happen. We will pursue all lawful avenues to ensure that the party structure is not hijacked,” he said.

Mai Riga also alleged that the party’s national leadership directed the suspension of a planned state congress in Kano after Kwankwaso joined the NDC. He linked the decision to internal negotiations over party control.

“We were instructed not to hold the congress because of plans to hand over the structure. That is why I am not at the venue today. We will not allow the rights of our members to be trampled upon,” he added.

Kwankwaso, who arrived in Kano earlier in the week and is expected to hold consultations with political allies ahead of the 2027 elections, has not publicly responded to the allegations. Efforts to obtain his comment were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.