Kwankwassiyya Movement to Challenge INEC Omission of Kano NDC Gubernatorial Candidates

The Kwankwassiyya Movement has announced plans to engage the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the regulatory body omitted the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship ticket from its finalized list of candidates for Kano State.

According to a report by Daily Post Nigeria, the exclusion affects both the NDC deputy governorship nominee, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, and the party’s governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo. The NDC has characterized the absence of both names as an administrative oversight and stated that formal steps are underway to rectify the roster.

Dispute Over Candidate Eligibility and Filing

Speaking in a broadcast interview on Arise Television, Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson for the Kwankwassiyya Movement, described the commission’s move as unexpected. Mohammed maintained that the campaign had met all standard pre-election criteria and was not aware of any unresolved disputes or legal restrictions affecting the ticket.

The spokesperson noted that the deputy gubernatorial candidate is a former deputy governor whose fundamental qualifications should not be under doubt. Mohammed stated that Kwankwaso was duly registered with the NDC within statutory timelines and that no legal judgments or court injunctions exist that would disqualify him from appearing on the ballot. He added that the electoral commission had not officially communicated any specific rationale for excluding the nominees.

Utilizing the 14-Day Redress Window

Rather than pursuing immediate litigation, the political movement plans to rely on established electoral rules that provide an avenue for correction. Mohammed explained that electoral statutes grant candidates a 14-day window to seek administrative redress whenever names are mistakenly excluded from published candidate registers.

The spokesperson emphasized that the group intends to exhaust this mechanism by engaging directly with INEC officials, expressing confidence that the situation can be resolved amicably:

“If he is not on INEC’s list, I believe the Kwankwassiyya Movement, being law-abiding and committed to doing things the right way, will explore that opportunity and engage INEC. We are confident that the matter will be resolved because we see no reason why it should be otherwise.”

Next Steps in the Kano Gubernatorial Race

Kano State represents one of the most closely watched political arenas in Nigeria, with candidate verification serving as a critical juncture in party campaigns. With the 14-day window now in focus, the NDC and the Kwankwassiyya leadership will aim to submit their documentation and clarify the standing of their ticket before ballot preparations proceed further.

As of reporting, INEC has not issued a public statement clarifying why the names were omitted or whether an administrative review is formally underway.

Source: Daily Post Nigeria

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