Kwankwaso meets NDC Chair, resolves Kano party crisis

A former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on Tuesday met with the Kano State Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Hussaini Mairiga, in a move to resolve the lingering leadership crisis within the party in Kano State.

Mr Mairiga confirmed the meeting in an interview with The PUNCH, stating that it involved key stakeholders and was aimed at addressing disagreements over party structure and leadership.

Following the engagement, Mr Mairiga announced that the crisis had been resolved and declared support for Mr Kwankwaso’s leadership in the state.

“We had a fruitful discussion with Sen. Kwankwaso and other critical stakeholders… all lingering issues have been amicably resolved in the interest of unity and progress,” he said.

Mr Mairiga added, “We recognise Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as our leader in Kano State.”

The resolution comes after days of internal tension triggered by Mr Kwankwaso’s recent defection to the NDC alongside Peter Obi, which raised concerns over control of the party’s structure in Kano.

Call for unity

Mr Mairiga urged party members to remain committed and united ahead of future political activities.

“I call on all our members to remain steadfast and work collectively for the growth of the party. This resolution marks a new beginning for the NDC in Kano,” he said.

The crisis had earlier intensified after Mr Mairiga resisted moves to cede leadership control to Mr Kwankwaso, insisting that existing party executives would retain authority.

Background

The disagreement stemmed from attempts to integrate Mr Kwankwaso into the party structure following his defection, with both sides initially holding separate meetings that failed to reach consensus.

Tensions escalated further amid reports of a suspended state congress, which fuelled suspicions of a possible leadership overhaul within the Kano chapter.

The development reflects broader political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, as opposition figures reposition within emerging platforms like the NDC.