Gwarzo says INEC name omission row boosted NDC support in Kano
- INEC restored Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo's name to its Kano governorship candidate list, his spokesperson said.
- Gwarzo's camp says the omission row drew sympathy and new supporters to the NDC ahead of 2027.
- Residents and Kwankwasiyya supporters in Kano say calm has returned after days of tension.
The New Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) says the row over its Kano governorship candidate's name being left off the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) list has won it more supporters, not fewer.
Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo's name has now been restored to INEC's final list of contestants for the 2027 governorship election, according to his spokesperson, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu.
Shuaibu said the party was never shaken by the initial omission because it followed every step: membership registration, its primary election and the submission of the candidate's details.
"What some people thought would weaken us has instead brought us greater attention and strengthened our support base," he said, adding that more people are now asking about the party and its candidate.
He described the restoration as vindication, saying the party always believed there was no legal or procedural reason to drop Gwarzo.
Calm returns to Kano
The omission had caused real anxiety in Kano. Streets and political gatherings were tense as rumours spread that Gwarzo had been disqualified, with attention focused on supporters of the Kwankwasiyya movement and the NDC.
After INEC restored the name, supporters celebrated in parts of Kano metropolis. The spokesperson for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Habeeb Saleh, said the decision was the right one.
"This is a victory for democracy and not only for NDC members," he said, urging members to stay calm during campaigns.
A Kano resident, Shaarani Ahmad, said the tension had lifted. "We are now at rest because INEC did the right thing at the right time," he said, adding that parties can now focus on campaigning.
The NDC said it will keep mobilising across all 44 local government areas of Kano and urged supporters to remain peaceful and disciplined.
Note: One source named the party the New Nigeria Democratic Congress, another the Nigeria Democratic Congress.
What happens next
With the candidate list settled, attention turns to campaigns ahead of the 2027 governorship election. The NDC says it will pursue its ambitions through lawful means.
