A fresh crisis has erupted in the Kano State chapter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) following allegations that former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is attempting to hijack the party structure.
Naijaonpoint reports that the allegation was raised by the party’s North-West Vice Chairman, Mohammed Serina, and Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Mariga, in a petition sent to the NDC National Leader, Seriake Dickson.
They accused Kwankwaso of trying to sideline members who are not part of the Kwankwasiyya movement.
Serina said the party had welcomed Kwankwaso and his supporters into the NDC and was directed by Dickson to work closely with him.
He, however, alleged that the former governor later sought full control of the party structure in Kano State.
Serina 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.”
Serina said disagreements first emerged during the state congresses when Kwankwaso allegedly tried to take over the Kano structure.
He said, “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 party officials alleged that the crisis resurfaced during the nomination process.
They claimed that after nomination forms were handed over to Kwankwaso, he refused to make them available to aspirants outside the Kwankwasiyya movement.
The petition read, “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 party leaders alleged that none of the 40 state House of Assembly forms, 24 House of Representatives forms, three senatorial forms and the governorship form were allocated to aspirants outside the Kwankwasiyya fold.
Serina said he personally appealed to Kwankwaso 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.
He alleged that the request was rejected.
The officials said they were forced to petition Dickson and the National Working Committee (NWC), warning that the exclusion of non-Kwankwasiyya members was creating disaffection.
“It is our position that no individual possesses an exclusive monopoly over political wisdom or electoral viability in Kano State,” Serina stated.
They also alleged that some 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 affected by the nomination dispute.
The party leaders also accused Kwankwaso of threatening to leave the NDC if he was not granted full control of its Kano structure.
“We are not members of the Kwankwasiyya movement, and we cannot accept a situation in which membership of a particular political group becomes the sole criterion for participation, recognition, or eligibility for elective office within our party,” the statement added.
Reacting, the Kwankwasiyya Movement dismissed the allegations as unfounded.
In an interview with Punch, the movement’s spokesman, Habibu Muhammed, insisted that no aspirant was denied access to nomination forms.