Nomination List: NDC may run into crisis

• Kwankwaso bloc, PRP mull realignment

• We are working towards amicable resolution —Osa Director, NDP spokesman

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) appears set for an implosion ahead of next general elections.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the battle for the control of the Kano state chapter between former Presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, (NNPP) and vice presidential candidate of the NDC, Rabiu Kwankwaso and certain estranged chieftains of the party is the genesis of the looming crisis.

It was further gathered that the stance of the NDC National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Leader of the party, Senator Seriake Dickson, to rein in Kwankwaso is already inflaming negative passion in the camp of Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiya movement.

Kwankwaso overbearing posture

Multiple party sources revealed that the leadership of the NDC is torn between allowing the former Minister of Defense to take all the nominations for elective positions in Kano State and allowing those who built the party at inception but who are now left with nothing to resign en masse from the NDC.

The source told Nigerian Tribune: “Kwankwaso has all the slots for senatorial seats, House of Representatives,  his favoured choice, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo, is the governorship candidate. The APC governorship candidate in 2023, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, who joined us was sidelined.

“With all that to himself, Kwankwaso is still insisting on having the nomination for all the 44 seats in the Kano state assembly.”

The source revealed that the NDC NWC was jolted when Kwankwaso rebuffed its request to concede two of the state assembly slots.

“The National Vice Chairman North West, Mohammed Sabo Barkin Zuwo, wanted a slot for the state assembly for his son but Kwankwaso still ignored him and the entire Kano state executive.

“He wanted to take everything. Even the likes of former governor of the state, Senator Kabiru Gaya, who was anxious to join us has decided to stay back in APC because Kwankwaso has frustrated him,” he said.

Kwankwaso opens discussion with PRP

In the face of a simmering cold war between Kwankwaso and the NDC NWC led by Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe over the former NNPP presidential candidate’s insistence on taking absolute control of Kano chapter and who gets what, sources revealed that he has since opened discussions with the leadership of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), where former Cross Rivers State Governor, Donald Duke is the presidential candidate.

“We learnt that he actually planted some of his supporters in the PRP Kano State as he collected nomination forms for them for elective offices,” he said.

READ ALSO: Dickson warns Peter Obi, Kwankwaso’s supporters against running down NDC

The party source revealed that Kwankwaso is trying to talk the NDC Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, into his defection plot into PRP.

“His argument is that PRP is already a household name in the North and it will fly better.

“Obi isn’t listening to him because he knows that it is too late to drag ticket with Donald Duke,” he added.

Kwankwaso’s interest isn’t in the 2027 Presidential race. It doesn’t matter to him if NDC loses dismally at the forthcoming general elections, so long as he wins Kano,” he said.

Defection looms in Kano:

It was also revealed that the National Leader of the Party, Senator Dickson, was busy over the weekend trying to calm aggrieved members of the party in Kano who are already getting impatient over perceived lack of capacity of the NDC NWC to rein in Kwankwaso.

“They are planning to leave the party. They actually planned a press conference for Friday to announce their resignation but Dickson had to appeal to them,” the Nigerian Tribune source revealed.

Crisis will be resolved —Director, NDC National Publicity Secretary

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune in a telephone interview, Comrade Osa Director, National Publicity Secretary of the NDC, confirmed the impasse in the Kano state chapter of the party.

He however disclosed that relevant stakeholders are working round the clock to resolve it before submission of final list of candidates.

He said: ”We are discussing with all relevant stakeholders towards reaching a common ground and finding a resolution.

“We will resolve all the grey areas before submitting our final list to INEC.

“Our goal is to go into 2027 as a united family. We are determined to oust the APC in 2027.”

Asked about looming defection by aggrieved aspirants who are angry that the NDC NWC is conceding too much ground to Kwankwaso, Osa Director said he was not aware of any planned defection.

“I have told you that discussions are ongoing. The National Chairman, Senator Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe and our National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, have opened discussions with all stakeholders in Kano.

“They are working tirelessly to reach amicable resolutions. There is nothing like planned defection from our party,” he said.