The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has challenged Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to substantiate his allegation that the party is working to prevent the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from participating in the 2027 election.
The APC maintained that the controversy surrounding Gwarzo’s candidacy stemmed from a dispute within the opposition party, insisting that neither Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf nor the state government had initiated or influenced the legal proceedings.
The disagreement has added another layer of tension to political activities in Kano ahead of the next governorship election, following concerns over the absence of the NDC candidate’s name from the relevant list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Kwankwaso, the NDC’s vice-presidential candidate, had accused Governor Yusuf of being behind efforts to frustrate his party’s participation in the election.
The allegation was rejected by the APC, which described the claim as unfounded and politically motivated.
In a statement responding to the controversy, Kano APC Chairman Umar Doguwa said the legal dispute originated from disagreements involving members of the NDC and was not a case instituted by the ruling party.
He argued that attempts to link the APC to the matter were misleading, adding that the party had no reason to interfere with the opposition’s participation in the electoral process.
APC denies involvement in court proceedings
Doguwa said neither the APC nor Governor Yusuf had sponsored, facilitated or influenced the legal action concerning Gwarzo’s candidacy.
According to him, the proceedings arose from an internal dispute within the NDC, making it inappropriate to attribute responsibility to the ruling party without credible evidence.
The APC chairman also rejected suggestions that the state government was using its position to weaken opposition parties or secure an electoral advantage ahead of the 2027 contest.
He challenged Kwankwaso to produce verifiable evidence establishing a connection between the APC, the governor and the court case.
The party maintained that public accusations of political interference should be supported by facts, particularly when they involve allegations capable of heightening tension among supporters of rival political groups.
Doguwa further accused the former Kano governor of attempting to use the controversy to discredit the APC and its governorship candidate.
He described the allegation as political blackmail and argued that attention should instead be directed towards resolving the issues responsible for the legal dispute within the NDC.
The chairman insisted that the APC should not be held responsible for disagreements involving another political organisation simply because the dispute could affect its preparations for the forthcoming election.
Party defends judicial independence
The Kano APC also invoked the independence of the judiciary, maintaining that political parties have no authority to determine the outcome of cases before the courts.
Doguwa said the appropriate judicial institutions should be allowed to examine the dispute and make decisions in accordance with the law.
The party’s position was that neither the APC nor any individual candidate could dictate how the courts handled proceedings involving the NDC.
In its statement, the APC declared: “Neither the APC nor its governorship candidate has any interest in interfering with the electoral process or using state power against political opponents.
“Every eligible candidate has the constitutional right to participate in the 2027 general elections in accordance with the law.”
The party said its position reflected its stated commitment to electoral competition and the right of qualified candidates to seek public office.
It also urged political leaders to avoid statements that could create the impression that judicial proceedings were being manipulated for partisan purposes without evidence establishing such interference.
The APC maintained that legal disputes should be resolved through established judicial procedures rather than public accusations against political opponents.
Controversy surrounds NDC’s 2027 ambition
The disagreement emerged after Gwarzo and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, were reportedly absent from INEC’s updated list of governorship candidates for the 2027 election.
The development prompted questions about the NDC’s position in the Kano governorship race and generated competing claims about the circumstances surrounding the omission.
Kwankwaso alleged that the governor was attempting to prevent the opposition party from presenting its candidate to voters. He argued that the development threatened the party’s ability to participate in the election.
However, INEC’s explanation, as reported by Nigerian media, indicated that a subsisting court order was responsible for the omission of the NDC candidates’ names.
The commission was reported to have said it had no objection to Gwarzo’s candidacy, subject to the outcome of the relevant legal proceedings.
The explanation places the court case at the centre of the dispute, although the APC and the NDC have presented different accounts of the political circumstances surrounding it.
The APC attributed the problem to internal disagreements within the opposition party, while Kwankwaso alleged that the governor had a hand in efforts to exclude the NDC from the contest.
The competing positions have yet to be reconciled through the claims and counterclaims contained in the parties’ public statements.
APC urges political leaders to exercise restraint
Doguwa called on Kwankwaso and other political stakeholders to allow the relevant institutions to perform their constitutional duties without unnecessary political pressure.
He also urged residents to disregard attempts to associate the APC and Governor Yusuf with the NDC’s legal battle, reiterating that the ruling party had no direct or indirect involvement in the proceedings.
The chairman maintained that the controversy should not be used to create distrust in the judiciary or suggest that the APC was responsible for a legal process it said had originated within the opposition party.
With the 2027 governorship election approaching, the dispute highlights the importance of resolving candidate-related legal questions through transparent and lawful procedures.
For the NDC, the immediate concern is the legal situation affecting its candidates and their place in the electoral process.
For the APC, the priority in its public response has been to reject allegations of interference and demand evidence linking it to the case.
The eventual outcome of the court proceedings will be significant in determining the candidates eligible to appear on the ballot, subject to the applicable electoral laws and decisions of the relevant authorities.
Until the legal issues are resolved, the APC has insisted that responsibility for the proceedings should not be placed on Governor Yusuf or the ruling party without evidence.
Doguwa reiterated that political competition should be conducted within the law and urged all sides to respect the institutions responsible for administering elections and resolving disputes.
About The Author
