Anxiety in NDC as Kwankwaso threatens to quit party over power-sharing row

Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reportedly threatened to leave the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) after the party replaced several Kwankwasiyya candidates in the State to enforce a pre-agreed 60/40 power-sharing formula.

The NDC had replaced several candidates earlier submitted by the Kwankwasiyya faction in Kano State over an alleged breach of a power-sharing agreement, according to a report by the Dailypost, which sighted a document signed by the Kano State NDC Chairman, Hon. Hussaini Isah Mairiga.

Mairiga said that the changes were made to reflect the earlier agreement on the distribution of party positions and elective tickets between the existing NDC structure and the Kwankwasiyya bloc.

The document was copied to the National Leader of the opposition political party, Senator Seriake Dickson, Kwankwaso, and the NDC North-West Zonal Chairman, according to news reports.

Under the revised list, the party approved the following for Federal Constituencies: Barr Isma’il Idris Sani – Kumbotso; Nasiru Ali Ahmed – Nassarawa; Kabiru Ishaq Sa’id – Kano Municipal, Barr Dayyabu Jamilu Ibrahim – Doguwa/Tudun Wada; Muhammad Hamisu Abubakar – Dawakin Tofa/Rimin Gado/Tofa; Ibrahim Bashir Bango – Sumaila/Takai and Abdulmajid Isa Umar Mairigar Fata – Gwale.

Adjustments were also made to the Kano State House of Assembly tickets in Dala, Tarauni, Kumbotso, Ungogo, and Dawakin Kudu constituencies.

According to the NDC, there was a standing agreement for elective positions and party offices to be shared on a 60-40 basis, with the Kwankwasiyya bloc receiving 60% and the original party structure retaining 40%.

The presidential candidate of the NDC, Peter Obi, on May 31 officially named Kwankwaso, as his vice presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The announcement confirmed a major political realignment ahead of the polls, positioning both figures as the party’s presidential and vice presidential ticket for the upcoming election.

With the confirmation, Obi and Kwankwaso are expected to jointly lead the NDC’s campaign into the 2027 race, bringing together two influential political blocs with strong national support bases.

The development marks one of the most significant opposition alliances ahead of the election cycle, reshaping early expectations for the 2027 presidential contest.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a list of candidates contesting bye-elections on the platforms of various political parties.

The list, released in a statement on Monday, is for the bye-elections across various senatorial districts and federal constituencies scheduled for June 20, 2026.

The bye-elections will be held in Ondo South senatorial district, Nasarawa North, Rivers South East, Enugu North, Kebbi State House of Assembly (Zuru Constituency) and Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency of Kano State.

Ondo South Senatorial District: Adesanya Olaoluwa — APP, Faduyile Francis Adedayo — APC, Akinwumi Adeolu Harrison — APM and Nejo Funso Clement — BP

Nasarawa North Senatorial District: Halilu Danladi Envwulu-Aza — APC, Maku Labaran — LP, John Paul Araneshri — NNPP and Emmanuel David Ombugadu — PDP.

Rivers South East Senatorial District, Douglas Fabeeke Beeka — AA, Osarosaka Ebenezer Erewari — APC, Sam Kinanee Barikpoa — LP and Nwogu Olaka Johnson — PDP.

Enugu North Senatorial District: Asogwa Ikeje Israel — APC, Aneke Kingsley Chukwuebuka — BP and Ezeme Nestor Chika — PDP.

Kebbi State House of Assembly — Zuru Constituency: Garba Aiki Rabiu — APC, Aliyu Galadima Muhammad — LP.

Kano — Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency (House of Representatives): Rabiu Shuaibu — APC, Lawan Garba Haruna — APM and Abubakar Yahaya Muhammad — LP.

Recall that in Ondo State, the seat became vacant after Senator Jimoh Ibrahim moved on to become Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

In Rivers State, the seat was left empty following the death of Senator Barinada Mpigi. In Nasarawa State, Senator Godiya Akwashika passed away, while in Enugu State, the seat became vacant after the death of Senator Okey Ezea.

The commission also fixed the same date for the Ekiti State governorship election, meaning several polls will take place across the country on that day.

Meanwhile, supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have swarmed the entrance of the Federal High Court in Abuja, demanding that the judiciary protect opposition parties from being stifled ahead of future elections.

The demonstration coincided with the resumption of the suit between Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) and a rival camp led by a former deputy national chairman of the party, Nafiu Bala-Gombe.

Demonstrators carried placards urging the court not to become a tool for distracting the opposition.

Recall that Justice Peter Lifu had on Wednesday ordered for an accelerated hearing on the leadership tussle.

The suit stems from a protracted internal crisis over the control of the ADC leadership structure. In April.

The Supreme Court set aside an earlier Court of Appeal order that had mandated parties to maintain the status quo. That appellate order had previously been used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-recognize David Mark’s leadership.

However, in a unanimous decision, a five-member panel of the apex court remitted the case back to the Federal High Court for an expeditious hearing of the substantive suit filed by Bala-Gombe, which challenges the legality of the current party leadership.

Following the Supreme Court’s directive, INEC restored Senator David Mark as the National Chairman of the ADC and reinstated other members of his National Working Committee on its portal.

A protem director of the Organisation for All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Ahidjo Karlahi, has dragged the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) before a Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the party’s registration over alleged violations of constitutional and electoral requirements.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1115/2026, was filed last Tuesday and has been assigned to Justice Mohammed Umar by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.

The legal action comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections and follows recent assertions by the NDC leadership that the party remains legally registered and fully recognised by INEC.

At the maiden national convention of the NDC held at the Angeles Event Centre and Mall in Abuja, the party’s national leader and founder, Seriake Dickson, reportedly maintained that there was no pending litigation or appeal challenging the party’s registration.

He also assured party members that the NDC remained united and legally positioned to participate in future electoral contests.

However, Karlahi, who is the sole plaintiff in the case, is asking the court to declare the party’s registration invalid, alleging that the NDC failed to comply with mandatory constitutional and statutory requirements governing the registration of political parties in Nigeria.

In the originating summons, Karlahi joined INEC and the NDC as the first and second defendants, respectively.

He argued that the NDC was not among the political associations prequalified by INEC to participate in the 2025 political party registration exercise and therefore could not have lawfully emerged as a registered political party.

According to him, the party allegedly failed to complete key stages of the registration process prescribed under Sections 221 to 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as well as Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022.

Karlahi contended that the NDC was not listed among associations that paid the mandatory administrative fee of N2 million required for access to INEC’s political party registration portal.

He further alleged that the party neither gained access to the commission’s dedicated registration portal nor completed Form EC15A, which he described as the only valid means of formally applying for political party registration.

“The NDC was not listed among the prequalified associations for formal application in the 2025 political parties registration exercise,” he stated.

He also maintained that the party was absent from INEC’s published list of associations that successfully applied for registration, insisting that the alleged irregularities were matters of public record.

Based on these claims, Karlahi is asking the court to declare the continued recognition of the NDC by INEC as unconstitutional, unlawful and void.

Among the reliefs sought are orders setting aside the party’s certificate of registration, directing INEC to remove the NDC from its official register of political parties, and restraining the commission from further dealing with the party as a registered political entity.

He is also seeking an injunction barring the NDC from presenting itself as a registered political party or participating in any electoral activities pending compliance with constitutional requirements.

Karlahi stressed that the lawsuit was not politically motivated and was not filed on behalf of ADA or any other association.

He described the action as a personal effort aimed at protecting constitutionalism, electoral integrity and the rule of law.

“This suit is instituted solely by me as a citizen to advance constitutionalism, the rule of law and electoral integrity in our democracy. It is not directed against any individual or group of persons,” he said.

The ADA chieftain argued that strict adherence to legal procedures for political party registration is critical to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic system.

According to him, any compromise in the registration process could undermine public confidence in electoral institutions and weaken the country’s constitutional framework.

“I believe that electoral integrity is the bedrock of constitutional democracy. If the process for registering political parties is compromised, the entire democratic edifice is at risk. This suit is my contribution to safeguarding that process,” he stated.

He called on Nigerians, civil society organisations and the media to closely monitor the proceedings, describing the case as a significant test of constitutional governance rather than a partisan dispute.

Karlahi also expressed confidence in the judiciary, saying the courts remain the ultimate guardians of the Constitution and would determine the matter based on the law.

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