Clarify Gwarzo’s Absence from Kano Guber List, Kwankwasiyya Tells INEC

The Kwankwasiyya Movement, representing the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) gubernatorial candidates in Kano, has requested calm and clarification from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the absence of candidate Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo and his running mate Mustapha Rabi’u Kwankwaso from the final candidate list.

In a statement on Sunday, the movement’s spokesperson, Dr Habibu Sale Mohammed, clarified that Gwarzo had officially registered with the NDC within the permissible timeframe and that they were unaware of any legal issues leading to his exclusion. The movement called on INEC to provide a detailed explanation for Gwarzo’s omission and advised the NDC to verify Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which allows for a 14-day period for candidates to formally notify INEC of any missing name by submitting an affidavit.

The movement urged the NDC leadership and legal representatives to assemble supporting documents, such as evidence of registration, nomination papers, and acknowledgments, to substantiate their claim. If the records support the movement’s position, they expect INEC to handle the situation transparently and take any lawful corrective actions.

The statement emphasized the importance of due process and cautioned against premature conclusions regarding INEC's decision or any potential legal proceedings. The movement urged supporters to maintain lawful political activities and emphasized their commitment to democratic principles, electoral fairness, and the rule of law.