Kwankwasiyya Denies Crisis Over Kano NDC Tickets

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has dismissed reports of internal division over the allocation of political positions ahead of the 2027 elections in Kano State.

Naija News reports that the movement said decisions on candidates were reached through consensus and accepted by key stakeholders.

This followed the nomination of Aminu Abdulsalam, a former deputy governor of Kano State, as the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

Abdulsalam emerged after a consensus arrangement was concluded on Thursday night.

Under the same arrangement, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the 2023 election, emerged as the NDC senatorial candidate for Kano Central.

Gawuna, who recently defected to the NDC, had initially been interested in the governorship ticket.

He will now contest for the Kano Central Senatorial seat currently occupied by Rufai Sani Hanga.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Post, the spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habib Saleh Mailemo, said there was no disagreement within the group.

“Well, first you have to understand that the Kwankwasiyya Movement is a very disciplined organisation and we have our ways of handling issues relating to contention for political offices,” he said.

He said consensus candidates were agreed upon for major positions within 48 hours of the return of the movement’s leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

“Within 48 hours of the arrival of our national leader, the movement was able to sort out consensus candidates across the positions of House of Representatives, State Assemblies, Senators and Governor, and we are ready to go,” he stated.

‘Gawuna Was Part Of Process’

Mailemo said outsiders might view the process as complicated, but members were carried along.

“To others, this process is very tedious. To some, it involves manipulations. But to us, it is always an open process because all members are aware of the steps being taken before decisions are reached,” he said.

He insisted that Gawuna was not sidelined in the decision that produced Abdulsalam as the governorship candidate.

“I believe that decision did not only involve Gawuna. He was part of it. He was not only consulted, but he was also actually part of the entire process to the end,” he said.

The Kwankwasiyya spokesman also dismissed claims that Gawuna refused to step down for Abdulsalam.

“I think that is just mere speculation. There was never a time when he, or anybody close to him, stated that he rejected the offer,” he said.

According to him, Gawuna only requested time to consult and reflect before taking a final position.

He explained, “When the decision was presented, he asked for a little time to process it and come back with his position. That does not amount to rejection.

“For someone who had aimed to become governor within this election cycle, it was normal to take some time and consult with those around him.”

He added that Gawuna later accepted the decision.

“He eventually came back and expressed his acceptance,” he said.

On the position of the incumbent senator, Rufai Sani Hanga, Mailemo said he also accepted the consensus arrangement.

“That position is currently occupied by Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, who is also one of the leading members of this movement, and he agreed to support that decision. He understands and he is not angry,” he said.

He said the conduct of Gawuna and Hanga showed discipline and unity within the movement.

“We are one big family guided by discipline, dedication and commitment to a single goal of protecting the downtrodden and ensuring social justice prevails at all times,” he added.