Kwankwaso Leads Protest in Kano Over INEC Candidate Omission

On October 16, Mustapha Kwankwaso, the Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State, led a protest with hundreds of Kwankwasiyya Movement supporters against the omission of their governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) candidate list. The protestors marched to the INEC office in Kano, submitting a petition for the reinstatement of their candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

Kwankwaso described the omission as unjust, asserting that Gwarzo met all INEC nomination requirements. INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner Abdu Zango acknowledged the omission and confirmed an appeal window until October 24.

Dr Habib Mohammed, spokesperson for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, stated that the petition also included allegations of forgery and collusion by an INEC staff member, claiming unauthorized letters led to the substitution of their candidates. The group requested an investigation into the staff member's actions.