NDC Denies Rabiu Kwankwaso Ever Considered Leaving the Party

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has rejected claims that its vice‑presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, ever thought about quitting the party.

National Publicity Secretary Osa Director said the reports suggesting Kwankwaso threatened to exit over disagreements about candidate selection in Kano State are completely false.

He labelled the stories as “conjectures and media speculations” designed to damage the party’s reputation.

“At no point did our leader, Kwankwaso, threaten to leave the party. These are merely conjectures and media speculation aimed at undermining us, and we know their source,” Director stated.

According to him, the rumors are being spread by political opponents and other interests trying to fabricate a crisis inside the NDC.

The remarks came after news outlets linked Kwankwaso to discontent over recent changes to the party’s candidate list in Kano State.

The controversy started when the NDC replaced several nominees originally put forward by the Kwankwasiyya movement, the group loyal to the former Kano State governor.

A document allegedly signed by the NDC Chairman in Kano State, Hussaini Mairiga, explained that the adjustments were made to honour an existing power‑sharing deal between the Kwankwasiyya bloc and the party’s established structure in the state.

Under that arrangement, the Kwankwasiyya faction receives about 60 percent of party positions and elective tickets, while the traditional NDC structure gets the remaining 40 percent.

This development sparked speculation that Kwankwaso might reconsider his membership if his allies were sidelined.

Party officials, however, insisted that no such threat was ever made and that consultations are ongoing to address any concerns arising from the nomination process.

Director added that disagreements over nominations are normal in political parties, especially in a growing coalition preparing for a major election.

“Besides media speculation and those who do not want us to succeed, there have been cases in a Delta State constituency where an incumbent allegedly backed five or six aspirants to run against Collins Edema,” he noted.