Hundreds of supporters of the Kwankwasiyya Movement on Friday stormed the Kano State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to protest the exclusion of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate from the commission’s list of candidates.
The protesters, led by the deputy governorship candidate, Mustapha Kwankwaso, submitted a formal petition on behalf of Comrade Aminu Gwarzo, demanding the reinstatement of the party’s governorship candidate.
The movement also accused an INEC official of allegedly colluding with unauthorised individuals to facilitate the substitution of some of its candidates.
Receiving the protesters at the commission’s Kano office, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Abdu Zango, acknowledged their complaint and assured them that the petition would be forwarded to INEC’s national headquarters for consideration.
Zango explained that the commission had already outlined the reasons for the omission of some candidates and provided an opportunity for affected political parties to challenge the decision before October 24, 2026.
“Basically, what they came to do is to present a complaint about the omission of their candidates. INEC has made the point very clear, the reason for the omission and the fact that there is a window of appeal that has been provided up to the 24th of October,” he said.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner commended the protesters for presenting their grievances peacefully rather than resorting to violence.
“We received all the complaints and assured the delegation that their petition will receive the necessary attention and we are going to forward it to our national headquarters for consideration.
“I also commended them because that is the most orderly way of presenting such complaints rather than resorting to violence,” Zango stated.
He reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality in the electoral process and urged eligible voters in Kano to continue collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
Zango disclosed that PVC collection would soon be extended to Registration Areas to make the exercise more accessible to residents.
Speaking to journalists at the INEC office, spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Dr Habib Mohammed, said the protest was aimed not only at securing the reinstatement of the NDC candidates but also at drawing attention to alleged irregularities involving an official of the electoral commission.
Mohammed alleged that the official had collaborated with unauthorised persons to conceal a decision that resulted in the substitution of some candidates.
“We are also petitioning against a staff here, whom we believe colluded with some unauthorized people to hide a decision which led to substitution of some of our candidates,” he said.
The spokesperson further alleged that multiple letters bearing suspected forged signatures had been submitted to INEC, resulting in the replacement of some of the movement’s candidates.
He called on the commission to investigate the allegations against the official and determine the circumstances surrounding the alleged substitution.
Mohammed warned that the movement would consider further action if its concerns were not adequately addressed.
He, however, acknowledged the assurance given by the Resident Electoral Commissioner that the petition would be forwarded to INEC’s national headquarters for appropriate consideration.
Ahmad Sorondinki
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