Protesters from the Kwankwasiyya Movement gathered in Kano on Friday to demand the restoration of the National Democratic Congress governorship contender, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, to the electoral roll. Daily Trust previously detailed how Gwarzo was left off the candidate roster published by the Independent National Electoral Commission earlier in the week. Headed by Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party’s deputy governorship flagbearer, the demonstrators walked to the Kano office of INEC to deliver a formal petition, with Kwankwaso arguing that the group followed all candidate nomination rules and calling the omission unfair.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano, Abdu Zango, acknowledged receipt of the petition and explained that the omission was for reasons already communicated, but assured that there was still a window for appeal until October 24. He emphasised that the commission in Kano remained neutral and commended the protesters for their orderly conduct. “We received all the complaints and assured the delegation that their petition will receive the necessary attention. We are going to forward it to our national headquarters for consideration,” Zango said, adding that the group’s peaceful approach was commendable. Beyond the omission, the Kwankwasiyya Movement alleged forgery and collusion by an INEC staff member. According to the group’s spokesperson, Dr. Habib Mohammed, unauthorised letters with suspected forged signatures were submitted to INEC headquarters, leading to the substitution of some candidates.
He urged the commission to investigate the officer involved. “Alhamdulillah, the Resident Commissioner received us very well and assured us that he will escalate the petition to the headquarters today,” Dr. Mohammed said. Meanwhile, Zango also spoke on the ongoing Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise, which began on October 9, expressing satisfaction with the turnout and promising to extend collection points to Registration Areas for easier access.
What You Should Know
Supporters of the Kwankwasiyya Movement staged a peaceful demonstration in Kano following the unexplained omission of their governorship candidate’s name from the electoral commission’s official list. Party leaders submitted a formal petition and further alleged forgery involving unauthorized letters submitted to the commission’s headquarters. The electoral body has promised to escalate the petition to national headquarters while reminding aggrieved parties that an appeal window remains open.
- Positive Impact: The protest remained peaceful and orderly, demonstrating civic engagement and adherence to lawful channels for grievance resolution.
- Potential Concerns: Allegations of forgery and unauthorized candidate substitutions highlight vulnerabilities in internal party documentation and administrative processes.
