By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
KANO — Former Kano State Governor and influential northern politician, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reportedly threatened to quit the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following tensions over the enforcement of a disputed 60/40 power-sharing arrangement within the party in Kano State.
The development comes after the NDC leadership allegedly replaced several candidates earlier submitted by the Kwankwasiyya political bloc in Kano, in what party officials described as an effort to align with a pre-existing internal agreement on the distribution of elective positions.
According to a report cited from Daily Post Nigeria, the changes were contained in a document signed by the Kano State Chairman of the NDC, Hon. Hussaini Isah Mairiga, and reportedly copied to top party stakeholders, including the party’s national leadership and key zonal officials.
The document indicated that the adjustments were made to reflect an earlier 60/40 power-sharing formula between the Kwankwasiyya structure and the mainstream party leadership in the state, with the Kwankwasiyya bloc allocated 60 per cent of elective positions while the original party structure retains 40 per cent.
Under the revised list, the party approved new candidates for several federal constituencies in Kano State, including Kumbotso, Nassarawa, Kano Municipal, Doguwa/Tudun Wada, Dawakin Tofa/Rimin Gado/Tofa, Sumaila/Takai, and Gwale. Similar adjustments were also reportedly made to tickets for seats in the Kano State House of Assembly across constituencies such as Dala, Tarauni, Kumbotso, Ungogo, and Dawakin Kudu.
Sources within the party make The Merit Newspaper understand that the restructuring has triggered internal friction, with Kwankwaso allegedly expressing dissatisfaction over what he views as a breach of political understanding within the alliance.
The controversy comes at a politically sensitive moment for the opposition coalition, following the emergence of Peter Obi as the NDC’s presidential candidate. Obi had earlier, on May 31, announced Kwankwaso as his running mate ahead of the 2027 general elections, a move that signaled a major opposition realignment.
The ticket is widely seen as a strategic alliance between two strong political blocs with significant followings across different regions of the country, positioning the NDC as a key contender ahead of the 2027 polls.
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Meanwhile, party insiders say efforts are ongoing to resolve the internal dispute and prevent further escalation that could threaten the stability of the emerging coalition.
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As of press time, neither Kwankwaso nor the NDC national leadership had issued an official public statement on the reported threat to quit the party.
