The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Vice Presidential candidate, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, has been accused of hijacking party structure in the North West

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the party’s Northwest Vice Chairman Mohammed Rabiu Serina and Kano State Chairman Hussaini Isa Mariga respectively.

They alleged that the former Kano state governor was excluding non-Kwankwasiyya members from contesting elective offices on its platform.

They duo described themselves as pioneer members of the party, said they were appointed by the party’s National Leader, former Bayelsa State Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, before the party’s registration and later confirmed as substantive officers through congresses and the national convention.

Serina and Mariga further stated that they were instrumental in building the party’s structures across Kano State and the Northwest before Kwankwaso and his supporters joined the party.

“The problems began when Kwankwaso sought complete control of the party structure in Kano State during the state congresses.

“The dispute prompted the intervention of the party’s national leader, Seriake Dickson who convened a meeting and brokered an agreement granting Kwankwaso and his supporters 60 per cent control of the party structure in Kano, while the party retained 40 per cent,” the party officials said.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the forthcoming Nasarawa North Senatorial District by-election scheduled for June 20, 2026.

The list, published by the electoral body, confirms four candidates who will contest for the vacant Senate seat representing the district.

Those cleared by INEC are Halilu Onda Enyulu-Uza of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Maku Labaran of the Labour Party (LP), John Paul Aaraneshi of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and Emmanuel David Ombugadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The publication of the final list signals the commencement of the final phase of preparations for the by-election, with political parties expected to intensify campaigns across the five local government areas that make up the senatorial district.

INEC had earlier assured stakeholders of its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and credible poll in line with the Electoral Act and established electoral guidelines.

The Nasarawa North Senatorial District comprises Akwanga, Wamba, Nassarawa Eggon, Kokona, and Nasarawa Local Government Areas.

With the release of the final list, attention now shifts to the campaigns and eventual showdown at the polls on June 20.

The Director of Politics at Arise News, Sumner Sambo, has said that Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is not willing to leave her current position to become a running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

Sambo made the remark on Monday while speaking on The Morning Show, where he discussed ongoing political speculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, although Okonjo-Iweala may be considered for the role, she is not prepared to abandon what he described as a lucrative position at the WTO, where she is currently serving a second term that runs until 2029.

He further argued that it would be unlikely for her to leave a secured international appointment for a political contest in Nigeria, especially one he said is still facing legal and political uncertainties.

He said: “Well, from the latest I’ve heard that Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela, though she may be considered and all of that, she’s not willing to actually leave a lucrative job as a DJ of the World Trade Organisation to actually consider that.

“She’s made it known to them, and that is understandable because she just resumed in September last year, and she has a tenure that will run for a second term till 2029.

“So what will she be doing, you know, as a vice presidential candidate of a party that’s still in court, facing challenges. I think she already has a secure term there, and she wouldn’t consider the offer.”