Kwankwaso under fire over son’s pick as Kano NDC governorship running mate

The nomination of Mustapha Kwankwaso, eldest son of former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, as the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) deputy governorship candidate in Kano State has ignited a firestorm of criticism. Many observers and party faithful are labeling the choice a significant political miscalculation ahead of the 2027 general elections, fearing it could undermine the NDC's momentum.

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In contrast, Mustapha Kwankwaso is the least experienced deputy governorship candidate the state has ever produced, one who lacks the capacity to preside over state affairs in the absence of his principal.

Critics accuse Rabiu Kwankwaso of betraying the Talakawa movement's legacy, which champions populist politics, by attempting to establish a political dynasty. They argue that overlooking seasoned Kwankwasiyya party stalwarts for his son risks alienating the party's grassroots support. The pairing of an older loyalist, Aminu Abdulsalam, with the junior Kwankwaso is seen as a gamble, with Mustapha likely to be perceived as his father's proxy rather than bringing a new voting bloc or regional balance to the ticket.

Kano State, a crucial political battleground in northern Nigeria, holds significant weight for the NDC's challenge against the ruling APC. The nomination has drawn sharp commentary regarding Mustapha Kwankwaso's qualifications. Jafar Jafar, publisher of Daily Nigerian, stated that Mustapha is the least experienced deputy governorship candidate Kano has ever seen, lacking the capacity to govern. He further argued that the nomination derails the Kwankwasiyya movement's core ideology and is a disservice to experienced party members, noting that Rabiu Kwankwaso himself has not entrusted his son with managing his personal businesses.

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This nomination is a direct disservice to the many experienced individuals who have laboured and sacrificed for the Kwankwasiyya movement. Remarkably, even Rabiu Kwankwaso himself has never trusted Mustapha to manage his personal businesses, not even as a farm manager. Yet, he is now positioning him to manage the resources and lives of millions of people.

Further fueling the controversy, former presidential spokesperson Bashir Ahmad alleged that Mustapha's nomination was the primary reason for the NDC's current political maneuvering. The situation highlights a tension between dynastic politics and the meritocratic principles often espoused by populist movements, with the NDC's electoral prospects in Kano potentially hanging in the balance.

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This decision must be reconsidered before it is too late.