07/06/2026
A fresh crisis may be brewing within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State following reports that the party’s National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, barred former Kano State Deputy Governor, Comrade Abdulsalam Gwarzo, and gubernatorial aspirant Gawuna from entering his residence during a recent visit.
While neither Dickson nor the affected politicians have publicly commented on the incident, party insiders say the development reflects growing tensions between the Kwankwaso-aligned bloc and another faction loyal to the existing state leadership.
Sources familiar with the dispute told PAP that the latest disagreement stems from the sharing of elective positions ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the sources, when Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso joined the NDC, an understanding was reached that his political structure would control 60 percent of the party machinery in Kano State, while 40 percent would remain with longstanding party members and leaders who built the platform before his arrival.
However, party stakeholders now allege that the spirit of that agreement is being undermined.
Insiders claim that the Kwankwaso camp has moved to take full control of major elective positions, including the governorship ticket, senatorial seats, House of Representatives tickets, and State House of Assembly nominations, with most of the positions allegedly reserved for loyalists of the former Kano governor.
Sources further revealed that Senator Seriake Dickson had personally intervened on behalf of some aspirants, urging that room be created for existing party members to participate in the emerging political arrangement.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Kwankwaso camp nor the Kano State leadership of the NDC had issued an official statement addressing the allegations.
PAP TAKE: If not carefully managed, the Kano dispute could become the NDC’s first major test of unity. The challenge before the party leadership is balancing the political weight brought by Kwankwaso with the interests of loyal members who built the platform before his arrival.
