NDC Drags INEC to Court Over Exclusion of Kano Governorship Candidate
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has taken the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over the exclusion of its Kano State governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from the list of candidates released by the electoral body ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
Politics Nigeria reports that the party approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling INEC to include Gwarzo’s name on the official list.
The NDC maintains that its candidate has fulfilled the requirements for participation in the election and should not be left out of the race.
The legal action comes as the party seeks judicial intervention to resolve the disagreement over its candidate’s omission.
The exclusion has raised questions about the NDC’s participation in the Kano governorship contest and whether Gwarzo will be allowed to stand for election under the party’s platform.
Yusuf Kofarmata, an NDC chieftain associated with the Kwankwasiyya movement, disclosed the development and called on party supporters to remain calm while the case proceeds.
He expressed confidence that the court would rule in the party’s favour and pave the way for Gwarzo to participate in the election.
Kofarmata’s statement suggests that the party intends to pursue the matter through the judicial process rather than abandon its bid to field Gwarzo as its candidate.
He also urged supporters to maintain their commitment to the party while awaiting the outcome of the proceedings.
The dispute places INEC’s published list of candidates at the centre of the controversy.
The immediate objective of the party is to secure an order that would require the commission to recognise Gwarzo as its governorship candidate.
The party believes the candidate should be allowed to contest, provided he has satisfied the applicable electoral requirements.
However, the specific grounds on which INEC excluded Gwarzo were not stated in the information available on the case.
Details of the suit, including the full list of reliefs sought, the date of hearing and whether INEC has formally responded to the allegations, were also not disclosed.
The court will therefore be expected to consider the issues presented by the parties before determining whether the requested order should be granted.
Until a decision is delivered, Gwarzo’s status on the official list remains the central issue in the dispute.
INEC is responsible for organising elections and publishing the list of candidates who are eligible to contest under the applicable electoral framework.
Moreover, The development follows earlier reports that the NDC had rejected the omission and maintained that the electoral commission should restore Gwarzo’s name.
The party’s position has remained that its candidate completed the necessary nomination process, although the precise circumstances surrounding the omission have yet to be fully established.
The published list in Kano included candidates from several parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC).
However, the party’s claims must be considered alongside INEC’s position and the applicable electoral laws.
The commission has not been reported as publicly providing a detailed explanation specifically addressing the latest court action.
It remains unclear when the matter will be heard or whether the court has issued any directives concerning the candidate’s status.
