Hundreds of supporters of the Kwankwasiyya movement on Friday staged a peaceful protest at the Kano State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the restoration of the name of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Comrade Aminu Gwarzo, to the list of candidates for the forthcoming election.
The protesters, led by Mustapha Kwankwaso, the party’s deputy governorship candidate, submitted a formal petition to the electoral commission, calling for a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the removal and alteration of the names of some candidates associated with their political platform.
The demonstration, held on Friday, October 16, 2026, was aimed at drawing the attention of the electoral umpire to what the movement described as questionable developments in the handling of its candidates’ details and the need for transparency in the electoral process.
Speaking on behalf of the Kwankwasiyya movement, its spokesperson, Dr Habib Mohammed, accused an INEC staff member of allegedly colluding with unauthorised individuals to conceal a court judgment said to have influenced changes to the names of some candidates.
Mohammed further alleged that certain letters bearing signatures suspected to be forged were submitted to the commission, resulting in the alteration of the names of some candidates affiliated with the movement.
He called on INEC to investigate the allegations and establish the circumstances surrounding the disputed documents and the alleged changes to the candidates’ records.
According to him, a comprehensive investigation would help determine whether the proper procedures were followed and identify any individuals who might have been involved in wrongdoing, if the allegations were substantiated.
The Kwankwasiyya spokesperson stressed the importance of ensuring that all electoral processes were conducted in accordance with the law, insisting that complaints relating to candidates’ eligibility and the publication of their names should be handled transparently and impartially.
He urged the commission to take appropriate action based on the findings of its investigation and ensure that the concerns raised by the movement received proper attention.
Mohammed also warned that the movement could consider further steps if its petition was not adequately addressed. However, he did not specify the nature of the additional measures being contemplated.
The petition centres on the movement’s demand for the restoration of Aminu Gwarzo’s name to the list of governorship candidates and an explanation regarding the alleged irregularities affecting other candidates associated with its political platform.
While receiving the petition, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano State, Abdu Zango, assured the protesters that their complaints would be forwarded to the commission’s national headquarters for consideration.
Zango acknowledged the concerns raised by the demonstrators and explained that the commission had already communicated the reasons behind the removal of the names of some candidates from the relevant list.
He also stated that the affected political parties had been given an opportunity to challenge the decision through the appropriate legal channels before October 24, 2026.
The commissioner’s remarks indicated that parties dissatisfied with the commission’s decisions could pursue the available appeal procedures within the stipulated timeframe.
He urged the affected parties to follow the established legal process in seeking a review of the decisions rather than resorting to actions that could undermine the peaceful conduct of electoral activities.
Zango commended the protesters for expressing their grievances peacefully and for submitting their petition through an established channel.
He noted that peaceful engagement with electoral authorities remained an appropriate way for political groups to communicate their concerns and seek clarification on decisions affecting their candidates.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner also reiterated that INEC was not aligned with any political party and maintained that the commission was committed to carrying out its responsibilities in accordance with the relevant electoral laws and regulations.
He emphasised the importance of public confidence in the electoral process, noting that the commission was responsible for administering elections without favouring any political organisation.
Beyond the issues raised in the petition, Zango urged eligible voters across Kano State to continue collecting their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), describing the cards as essential for citizens seeking to exercise their voting rights.
He disclosed that the commission was preparing to expand voter card collection points to the registration-area level to make the process more accessible to residents across the state.
The proposed expansion is intended to bring collection services closer to voters and reduce the difficulties some residents may encounter when attempting to obtain their cards.
The commissioner encouraged eligible voters to take advantage of the available arrangements and ensure that they completed the necessary procedures ahead of future elections.
The protest and the submission of the petition come amid continuing attention to the publication of candidates’ names, compliance with electoral requirements and the procedures available to political parties seeking to challenge decisions by the electoral commission.
The outcome of the petition is expected to depend on the commission’s examination of the issues raised and any applicable legal or administrative procedures.
As of the time of the protest, the allegations concerning forged signatures, unauthorised correspondence and the alleged concealment of a court judgment remained claims made by the Kwankwasiyya movement. The petitioner’s allegations had not been independently established in the information provided, and no conclusion should be drawn regarding the responsibility of any individual until the relevant facts have been examined.
INEC’s response and the commission’s subsequent handling of the petition will therefore be important in determining whether further action is warranted and whether the movement’s request concerning the NDC governorship candidate will receive any change in status.
