Kwankwasiyya supporters protest INEC omission of NDC gubernatorial candidate in Kano

Protest over candidate omission On 16 October 2026, a large gathering of Kwankwasiyya Movement supporters assembled outside the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Kano. The demonstrators, led by the movement’s deputy governorship candidate, Mustapha Kwankwaso, were reacting to the exclusion of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from the official list of contenders for the 2027 state election. According to reports from both Leadership and the Daily Post, the protest remained peaceful and the participants submitted a formal petition to the commission.

Allegations of forgery and collusion The petition not only sought the reinstatement of Gwarzo and his running‑mate, Mustapha Rabiu, but also called for an investigation into alleged forged documents and possible collusion by an INEC staff member. The Kwankwasiyya spokesperson, Dr Habib Mohammed, claimed that unauthorised letters bearing suspected forged signatures had been sent to INEC headquarters, leading to the substitution of several movement candidates in Kano. He asserted that the staff member had interacted with individuals who were not authorised to communicate on behalf of the party, prompting the request for an internal probe.

INEC’s response Kano State Resident Electoral Commissioner Abdu Zango received the petition and indicated that the commission had already provided a window for affected parties to lodge appeals, with a deadline of 24 October. Zango assured the protesters that their concerns would be forwarded to INEC’s national headquarters for consideration and praised the demonstration for its calm conduct. The Daily Post also noted that the NDC’s state public relations officer, Yusif Fasaha, had previously attributed the omission to a computer glitch on INEC’s part, insisting that the party had fulfilled all nomination requirements.

Next steps Both the Kwankwasiyya Movement and the NDC are awaiting a decision from INEC’s central office. While the movement expressed satisfaction with the resident commissioner’s assurances, it reiterated its demand for a thorough investigation into the alleged document fraud and staff collusion. The outcome of the appeal will determine whether Gwarzo and Rabiu are added to the candidate list ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial election in Kano.