Kano 2027: INEC Again Excludes NDC Governorship Candidate Gwarzo

 

Kano 2027: INEC Again Excludes NDC Governorship Candidate Gwarzo

 

By Akin Alade

 

The political atmosphere in Kano State has taken another turn ahead of the 2027 governorship election following the continued omission of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, and his running mate, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, from the updated list of candidates released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

 

The development has raised fresh questions about the status of the party’s governorship ticket and the legal and administrative issues surrounding its participation in the forthcoming election.

 

INEC’s updated list, released on Saturday, October 31, 2026, retained the exclusion of the two candidates despite earlier assurances reportedly received by party officials that the problem would be addressed.

 

NDC Faces Fresh Questions Over Kano Governorship Ticket

 

The latest development has brought renewed attention to the political future of Gwarzo, a former deputy governor of Kano State, and his running mate, who is the son of former Kano governor and Kwankwasiyya political leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

 

The duo had emerged as the NDC’s governorship candidates following political consultations within the party and the Kwankwasiyya movement.

 

Their continued absence from INEC’s updated list has created uncertainty over whether the party can secure their inclusion before the election.

 

The development is particularly significant because Kano remains one of Nigeria’s most politically active states, with major parties seeking to consolidate their structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

INEC Lists APC, PDP, ADC Candidates

 

While the NDC governorship ticket remains absent, INEC’s updated document contains candidates representing several other political parties.

 

Among those listed are incumbent Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and his running mate, Murtala Sule Garo, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has Abacha Muhammad Sani and Kibiya Yusuf Ado, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is represented by Ibrahim Ali Amin and Shehu Abdulkadir Bari.

 

Other parties appearing on the list include the Labour Party, Action Alliance, African Action Congress, Action Democratic Party, Allied Peoples Movement and Peoples Redemption Party.

 

The publication of the updated list has therefore provided further clarity for some participating parties while leaving the status of the NDC governorship ticket unresolved.

 

NDC Earlier Blamed Omission on Administrative Error

 

The controversy began after INEC published its initial final list of governorship candidates on October 10, 2026, without the names of Gwarzo and Kwankwaso.

 

Reacting to the development, the Secretary of the Kwankwasiyya Caucus and NDC House of Representatives candidate in Kano, Dr Yusuf Ibrahim Kofarmata, attributed the omission to an error in the processing of candidates’ details.

 

Kofarmata maintained that Gwarzo had completed the required registration procedures within the stipulated period and that the party had submitted the necessary information through INEC’s online portal.

 

He further disclosed that the party had received assurances that the problem was being addressed.

 

The NDC official urged supporters to remain calm while expressing confidence that the names would eventually appear on the commission’s list.

 

However, the October 31 publication indicates that the matter had not been resolved in the party’s favour as of the latest update.

 

Court Order Raises Further Questions

 

Beyond the party’s earlier explanation of an administrative error, reports on INEC’s updated list indicated that the NDC’s Kano governorship entries carried a court-order notation.

 

This suggests that the continuing omission may involve legal issues requiring resolution, rather than merely an outstanding correction of candidates’ details.

 

However, the precise scope of the reported court order and its implications for the nomination require clarification through the relevant judicial documents or an authoritative explanation from INEC.

 

The distinction is important because an administrative omission and a restriction arising from a court order may require different legal remedies.

 

Kwankwasiyya Movement Confronts Electoral Uncertainty

 

The situation has also attracted attention because of the political relationship between the NDC candidates and the Kwankwasiyya movement.

 

Gwarzo previously served as deputy governor under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, while Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso is closely connected to the movement through his father.

 

Their nomination had placed the NDC within the wider political contest involving the APC, PDP and other parties in Kano.

 

The continued omission now presents a significant procedural question for the party as preparations for the governorship election continue.

 

Although the party has maintained that its nomination procedures were properly completed, the updated INEC list remains the immediate official reference for the candidates recognised by the electoral commission.

 

What INEC’s Updated List Means for the 2027 Election

 

The controversy highlights the importance of compliance with electoral regulations, documentation requirements and judicial directives in Nigeria’s election management process.

 

Under the country’s electoral framework, political parties must satisfy applicable nomination requirements and submit candidates’ particulars within the prescribed timetable.

 

Disputes concerning nominations may also become subjects of litigation, with court decisions affecting the publication or recognition of particular candidates.

 

For the NDC, the immediate issue is whether the outstanding concerns can be resolved through lawful administrative or judicial procedures.

 

The absence of Gwarzo and Kwankwaso from the updated list does not, by itself, establish that every possible legal remedy has been exhausted.

 

Nevertheless, any subsequent change to their status would require a recognised legal or administrative basis.

 

Attention Turns to INEC and NDC Leadership

 

As political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 governorship election, attention is expected to focus on further clarification from INEC and the leadership of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

 

The party will need to establish whether the earlier reported documentation problem remains outstanding or whether the reported court order is now the principal obstacle to the publication of its candidates’ names.

 

For Kano voters, the development raises important questions about the final composition of the governorship ballot and the status of parties seeking to participate in the election.

 

Until the matter is formally resolved, Gwarzo and his running mate remain absent from the updated INEC list, leaving the NDC’s governorship nomination under continued uncertainty.