Kwankwaso group threatens to leave NDC over the replacement of some of its nominees

CRACKS look like they have appeared within the ranks of Nigerian opposition party the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as the Kwankwasiyya movement has hinted that it may leave over the marginalisation of his loyalists.

Next year, Nigeria goes to the polls to elect a new president  and most of the candidates who ran in 2023 are expected to stand again. President Bola Tinubu has been adopted as the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), while former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been nominated to fly the flag of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Two other 2023 candidates, the former governors of Anambra and Kano states Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso, are seen as a formidable team after they teamed up to take over the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). It is believed that Governor Obi would stand as its presidential candidate, with Senator Kwankwaso picked as his running mate, in what would be a very formidable partnership.

However, over the last few days, cracks have appeared within the ranks of the NDC with the Kwankwaso camp threatening to leave the party over an alleged breach of the agreed power-sharing formula. Apparently, the group is unhappy about plans to replace some of its loyalists who have been nominated to stand as National Assembly candidates.

A document signed by the Kano State NDC chairman, Hussaini Isah Mairiga, said the NDC has an agreement allocating elective positions on a 60/40 basis, with the Kwankwasiyya bloc expected to take 60%, while the original party structure retains 40% of seats. However, it appears that the NDC is looking to change this arrangement, replacing some of the Kwankwasiyya group candidates.