Kano NDC Chair Rejects Alleged Plot to Hand Party to Kwankwaso

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State is facing internal turmoil as party loyalists push back against the perceived imposition of leadership. State Chairman Usaini Mai-Riga has voiced strong opposition to the alleged plan to cede party control to former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who recently joined the NDC.

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He wants us to hand over the entire party to him, despite the sacrifices we made when the party had little or no presence.

Mai-Riga’s stance highlights a common tension in Nigerian politics: the struggle between established party structures and the influence of powerful, often wealthy, new entrants. He emphasized the sacrifices made by existing members during times when the party had minimal presence, framing Kwankwaso's demand for "total control" as an affront to their dedication and a potential hijacking of the party.

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This will not happen. We will pursue all lawful avenues to ensure that the party structure is not hijacked.

The suspension of the state congress, allegedly at the behest of the national leadership to accommodate Kwankwaso's integration, further fuels the internal conflict. Mai-Riga’s public denouncement and vow to "pursue all lawful avenues to ensure that the party structure is not hijacked" signal a potential protracted battle for control within the Kano NDC chapter. This internal dispute could have significant implications for the party's cohesion and electoral prospects in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.

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We were instructed not to hold the congress because of plans to hand over the structure. That is why I am not at the venue today. We will not allow the rights of our members to be trampled upon.