Power Struggle Erupts In NDC As Kwankwaso Ticket Battle Puts Obi, Dickson Under Pressure

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is reportedly grappling with fresh internal tensions as some senior party officials in the North-West consider resigning over disagreements surrounding the allocation of tickets ahead of the 2027 general elections.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

According to a report by Peoples Gazette, the dispute centres on the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, with some officials accusing him of wielding excessive influence over the selection of candidates, particularly in Kano State.

The report claimed that members of the NDC executive committee in the North-West are weighing their political future after months of reconciliation efforts allegedly failed to resolve differences among key stakeholders.

Sources quoted by the publication said the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and National Chairman, Seriake Dickson, have been briefed on the situation.

The report further alleged that the planned resignations could begin as early as this week.

Among those reportedly reviewing their positions are the party’s North-West Vice Chairman, Mohammed Rabiu Serina, and the Kano State Chairman, Hussaini Isa Mariga.

The aggrieved officials were said to have accused Kwankwaso of preventing other party executives from nominating their preferred aspirants for elective offices ahead of the 2027 elections.

One unnamed party official quoted in the report alleged that Kwankwaso single-handedly selected candidates for positions ranging from the Kano State House of Assembly to federal legislative offices.

The report also claimed that Kwankwaso ensured all 40 Kano State House of Assembly tickets went to his political allies.

It further alleged that some of his associates secured tickets under the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), a move some party insiders reportedly interpreted as an effort to keep alternative political options open ahead of the elections.

However, Serina reportedly said he was still weighing his options and did not explicitly confirm that he intended to resign from the NDC.

As of the time of filing this report, Kwankwaso had not publicly responded to the allegations.

The reported disagreement comes months after the NDC gained increased national attention following Peter Obi’s emergence as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Obi is expected to face President Bola Tinubu and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in what is widely expected to be a closely contested race.

According to the report, Dickson has made efforts to reconcile the aggrieved North-West leaders, particularly Serina and Mariga, who are said to have played significant roles in building the party’s structure in the region before Kwankwaso joined the NDC.

Another unnamed party official was quoted as alleging that Kwankwaso sought to dominate the party despite joining after its regional structures had already been established.

The report also claimed that some party members questioned Kwankwaso’s financial contributions to the NDC since becoming a member, although they acknowledged his political influence in the North-West.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, minister and senator, remains one of the region’s most influential politicians, with a strong political base in Kano.

The reported dispute has also fuelled speculation about the future of the proposed Obi-Kwankwaso presidential ticket, with some party insiders expressing concern that the disagreement could affect the NDC’s electoral prospects in the North-West.

Reacting to the report, NDC spokesperson Osa Director said he was not aware of any planned mass resignation by party officials in the region.

“To the best of my knowledge, my party is not facing anything different from what political parties around the world experience. Disagreements arise, and eventually they are resolved,” he said.