The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has moved to calm tensions in its Kano State chapter following reports of a fresh internal crisis over the distribution of party positions between long-standing members and new entrants from the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, the NDC said its leadership had commenced mediation efforts to resolve the issues and ensure inclusion for all members.
According to the statement, a delegation of the national leadership of the Kwankwasiyya Movement held a closed-door meeting with the party’s national leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, and other NDC leaders.
“A delegation of the national leadership of the Kwankwasiya movement last night met with the national leader, His Excellency Senator Henry Seriake Dickson and the leadership of the NDC,” the statement read.
“The close door meeting was aimed at resolving the issues between the Kwankwasiya movement and the legacy officials of NDC in Kano State.”
The party said Dickson and the NDC leadership were actively mediating in the dispute to strengthen participation and foster unity among members.
“Senator Dickson and the NDC leadership are mediating in the process in order to enhance inclusion and participation by every party member,” the statement added.
The NDC also dismissed reports suggesting that candidates had already emerged from its primary elections, insisting that no official results had been released.
“The NDC leadership will not impose candidates in Kano State, and indeed across the nation as the party cherishes the virtues of internal democracy,” it said.
“The meeting which lasted several hours was productive.”
“The NDC has not released any official results of its primary elections in any state. Hence, the public and party members are urged to disregard any such list in circulation.”
The statement followed reports of renewed disagreements within the Kano chapter of the party over the implementation of a power-sharing arrangement reached after the defection of former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his supporters to the NDC.
Under the reported agreement, executive positions and electoral tickets were to be shared on a 60–40 basis between the Kwankwasiyya Movement and existing NDC members, with the larger share allocated to the Kwankwasiyya bloc.
However, tensions resurfaced after the release of an alleged candidates’ list, with some longstanding party members accusing the Kwankwasiyya bloc of failing to fully honour the agreement and disproportionately favouring new entrants.
