The Kwankwasiyya Movement has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging irregularities in the handling of candidate nominations in Kano State and demanding an investigation into the omission of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from the commission’s list.
Hundreds of the movement’s supporters staged a protest at INEC’s Kano office on Friday, submitting a formal complaint over what they described as suspicious communications that allegedly resulted in the substitution of some candidates.
The movement’s spokesperson, Dr Habib Mohammed, alleged that an INEC staff member colluded with unauthorised persons to facilitate the changes.
He also claimed that some letters submitted to INEC headquarters contained signatures suspected to have been forged.
Mohammed urged the commission to establish who submitted the letters, how they were processed and whether the individuals involved had the authority to communicate changes to party nominations.
“We believe an INEC staff member colluded with some unauthorised people to conceal a decision that led to the substitution of some of our candidates,” he said.
The spokesperson said the movement had asked INEC to investigate the allegations before deciding on further action.
He expressed satisfaction with the reception accorded the protesters by the Kano Resident Electoral Commissioner, Abdu Zango, who reportedly promised to forward the petition to the commission’s national headquarters.
Earlier, the NDC deputy governorship candidate, Mustapha Kwankwaso, who led the protest on Gwarzo’s behalf, insisted that the party had complied with INEC’s nomination requirements.
He described the omission of Gwarzo’s name from the list as unjust and called for the matter to be resolved.
Responding, Zango confirmed that the commission had received the complaint and would forward it to the national headquarters for consideration.
However, he said INEC had already explained the reasons for the omission and provided an opportunity for affected parties to appeal by October 24.
“What they came to do is to present a complaint about the omission of their candidates. INEC has made the reasons for the omission clear and provided a window for appeal up to October 24,” Zango said.
He maintained that the Kano office would remain neutral while the complaint was being considered.
Zango also commended the protesters for expressing their grievances peacefully.
The controversy now puts the spotlight on INEC’s handling of party nominations in Kano, with the movement demanding an investigation into the alleged irregularities and clarification of the circumstances surrounding Gwarzo’s omission.