The Kano State governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Comrade Abdussalam Aminu Gwarzo, and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, are conspicuously missing from the final list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The document, published on INEC’s website on Saturday evening, contained the names of governorship candidates and their running mates from 17 political parties.
The parties include A, AA, AAC, ADC, ADP, APC, APGA, APM, APP, BP, DLA, LP, NDP, PDP, PRP, SDP and ZLP.
Among the candidates on the final list are Abba Kabir Yusuf and Murtala Sule Garo, the governorship candidate and running mate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as Abacha Muhammad Sani and Kibiya Yusuf Ado of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Others are Ibrahim Ali Amin and Shehu Abdulkadir Bari of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Koguna Nasiru Hassan and his running mate of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), among others.
However, Gwarzo and his running mate, the former deputy governor and a close ally of Kwankwasiyya leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, were absent from the list.
Gwarzo emerged as the NDC’s consensus governorship candidate alongside Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, a former commissioner for youth in Kano State and eldest son of Kwankwaso. The duo were reportedly nominated by Kwankwasiyya leader and the NDC’s presidential running mate for the 2027 election to challenge the ruling APC in Kano.
Similarly, INEC’s final list omitted the name of Nasiru Sule Garo, who emerged as the NDC’s senatorial candidate for Kano North.
Garo, who, until Saturday’s development, had flagged off his senatorial campaign in Kano North, was seeking to unseat the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau I. Jibrin, of the APC.
According to the INEC list obtained by The Guardian, Garo’s name appeared to have been replaced by that of Usman Sunusi Danbatta, who is now listed as the NDC’s candidate for Kano North Senatorial District.
When contacted for a reaction, the state Chairman of the NDC, Hussaini Mairiga, was not available for comment.
However, the spokesperson of APC in the state, Auwalu Soja, said the ruling party was not surprised by the latest development, considering allegations of fake certificates involving the documentation of both NDC candidates.
Soja, claimed that APC had earlier raised alarm over alleged fake records in the candidates’ ages and NYSC certificates, which finally led to the disqualification of the NDC candidates.
“What happened was if you could remember two months ago, the Northwest chairman of NDC, Sabo Bakinzuwo, complained about the date of birth of their candidate, Aminu Abdussalam, while comparing the date of the certificate to that on his NYSC certificate. Both are not tally.
“Secondly, if you check the case of his running mate, Mustapha Kwankwaso, we were told he studied at BUK or ABU, you hardly understand where he studied. That is why we say we are suspecting that is why they are facing this problem”. Soja claimed.
Meanwhile, former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau appeared on INEC’s list as the APC’s candidate for Kano Central Senatorial District. He is expected to face Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, a former deputy governor of the state and the NDC’s candidate, who is reportedly backed by Kwankwaso.
Similarly, another Kwankwaso loyalist, Ibrahim Kassim Bataiya, appeared on the NDC’s list as the party’s candidate for Kano South Senatorial District, where he is set to challenge the incumbent senator and APC candidate, Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila.
