Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has moved to settle the lingering leadership crisis within the Kano chapter of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) following his high-profile defection to the party.
Kwankwaso held a crucial meeting on Tuesday with the Kano State Chairman of the NDC, Hussaini Mairiga, alongside other key stakeholders, in what party officials described as a decisive effort to restore unity and address disagreements over the party’s structure in the state.
The meeting comes after days of uncertainty and internal tension triggered by Kwankwaso’s entry into the party alongside former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Confirming the development, Mairiga told newsmen that the engagement focused on resolving disputes surrounding the control and leadership of the party’s Kano structure.
According to him, the meeting produced a mutual understanding among all parties involved.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the Kano NDC chairman announced that all outstanding issues had been amicably resolved and declared support for Kwankwaso’s leadership within the state chapter.
“We had a fruitful discussion with Sen. Kwankwaso and other critical stakeholders of our great party. All lingering issues have been amicably resolved in the interest of unity and progress,” Mairiga stated.
He further affirmed the party’s recognition of the former governor as its political leader in Kano State.
“As a party, we have agreed to move forward together, and we recognise Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as our leader in Kano State,” he added.
Mairiga also called on party members to remain calm and committed to the party’s vision, stressing that unity would be critical to the NDC’s electoral success in the coming years.
“I call on all our members to remain steadfast and work collectively for the growth of the party. This resolution marks a new beginning for the NDC in Kano,” he said.
The resolution follows a tense standoff that had emerged shortly after Kwankwaso joined the NDC.
His defection had sparked concerns among party members over who would control the Kano structure of the party, given his significant political influence in the state.
The crisis intensified after Mairiga initially resisted alleged efforts to hand over the party structure to Kwankwaso.
At the time, he insisted that the existing state executives would not relinquish control without due process.
He had also revealed that earlier attempts to integrate Kwankwaso into the party stalled because both sides failed to agree on leadership arrangements.
The disagreement reportedly led to parallel meetings between the camps, with no immediate consensus.
The situation was further complicated by reports that the party’s planned state congress had been suspended, raising suspicions among members about possible attempts to reorganise the leadership structure in favour of the former governor.
However, Tuesday’s reconciliation meeting appears to have ended the standoff and restored stability within the Kano chapter.
Political observers believe the resolution strengthens the NDC’s chances of consolidating support in Kano, a key political battleground ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What You Should Know
Rabiu Kwankwaso remains one of northern Nigeria’s most influential political figures, with strong grassroots support in Kano State through his political movement.
His recent defection to the NDC created tension within the party’s Kano chapter because of concerns over control of its structure. The resolution of the crisis is significant as Kano is a major electoral stronghold capable of shaping national political outcomes.
By securing recognition as the party’s state leader, Kwankwaso has strengthened his influence within the NDC and positioned the party for possible expansion in northern Nigeria as preparations for the 2027 elections continue.
