By Hadiza Yusuf
The Kwankwasiyya faction has dismissed reports claiming that former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is planning to leave the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) over alleged disputes surrounding candidate lists in Kano State.
Reacting to the reports in an interview on Monday, Kwankwasiyya spokesperson, Habeeb Saleh Mohammed, described the claims as unverified rumours circulating on social media.
“Well, this is still a rumour. It is just being circulated on social media,” he said.
Mohammed maintained that the faction conducted its primary elections in accordance with the law and the timetable issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The reality is that we conducted our primaries according to the law and in line with the INEC timetable. We held our primaries on May 29, just as was done across the country,” he said.
He explained that the primaries followed a consensus-building process that produced candidates for various positions without any significant objections.
“Before that date, there were processes that led to consensus and candidates emerged for different positions. There were no complaints from party members or aspirants during that period,” Mohammed stated.
According to him, the exercise was successfully concluded and the list of candidates was forwarded to the party leadership for necessary action.
“I believe we conducted the process successfully and submitted the list to the party. It is now left for the party to do what it considers appropriate,” he added.
Mohammed stressed that there had been no discussion within the faction regarding any plan by Kwankwaso to leave the NDC.
“From our own perspective, these are issues we keep hearing here and there. There was never a time when it was discussed that our party leader, Kwankwaso, is leaving the party. That is our position,” he said.
The clarification follows reports alleging that the NDC replaced several candidates associated with the Kwankwasiyya faction in Kano State over an alleged breach of a 60-40 power-sharing arrangement said to favour Kwankwaso’s bloc.
The reports referenced a document reportedly signed by the Kano State NDC Chairman, Hon. Hussaini Isah Mairiga, on Monday.
