The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has unveiled Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate for the forthcoming gubernatorial contest.

In a statement by Kwankwasiyya spokesperson Habibu Sale Mailemo said Mustapha Kwankwaso will serve as the deputy governorship candidate on the NDC ticket. The unveiling marks a major step in the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections and is expected to generate considerable interest across Kano’s political landscape.

Mustapha is the son of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, one of the most influential political figures in northern Nigeria and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement. His emergence as running mate is likely to strengthen the NDC’s grassroots appeal, particularly among loyal supporters of the Kwankwasiyya political structure.

As political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of 2027, analysts say the emergence of Mustapha Kwankwaso as running mate adds a new dimension to Kano’s political equation and underscores the continued relevance of the Kwankwasiyya movement in the state’s politics.

The NDC is expected to intensify consultations, grassroots mobilization, and campaign preparations in the coming months as it positions itself for the battle to succeed the current administration in Kano State.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.

The other political parties the court directed the electoral body to deregister are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

The court order followed a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu.

The National Forum of Former Legislators had, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, prayed the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to remove political parties that fail to meet the electoral performance thresholds set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as reinforced by the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s regulations.

It was the position of the plaintiff that the five political parties listed as defendants in the matter had persistently failed to meet the constitutional benchmarks required to retain their registration.

The former legislators stressed that the requirements include winning at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.

They told the court that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in both the 2023 general elections and by-elections conducted by INEC, thereby failing to win seats across key tiers of government.

The litigants insisted that the continued existence of the ADC and the other defendants as recognised political parties is unlawful and undermines the integrity of the country’s electoral system.

Among other reliefs, the plaintiff urged the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to deregister such parties.

It further urged the court to compel the commission to deregister the five political parties before preparations for the 2027 elections advance further.

Beyond declaratory reliefs, the plaintiff prayed the court to restrain the five affected parties from participating in general elections or engaging in political activities such as campaigns, rallies, and primaries.

It also sought a court injunction restraining INEC from recognising or dealing with the parties in any official capacity unless and until they strictly comply with constitutional provisions.

The judgment may affect the chances of candidates of the affected political parties, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, to contest the 2027 presidential poll.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has officially selected former Rivers State Governor and former Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as its vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 general election, pairing him with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

The announcement, made today in the capital, puts to rest days of speculation about whether he would emerge as Atiku’s running mate after losing the party’s presidential primary to the former vice president.

ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said Amaechi’s emergence followed “extensive consultations” within the party and reflected his strong performance as runner-up in the party’s presidential primaries, as well as his “track records of service to his State and the country.”

According to the party’s full statement, Amaechi’s experience across both the legislative and executive arms of government — including as former Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term Governor of Rivers State, and former Minister of Transportation — makes him “uniquely qualified” to complement Atiku’s leadership.

The ADC described the proposed partnership as “more than a political alliance,” calling it “the coming together of two tested statesmen with the experience, national reach, and leadership capacity required to rescue Nigeria.”

The party further argued that the Atiku-Amaechi ticket “bridges regions, generations, and political traditions,” positioning itself as “a credible and compelling alternative capable of restoring confidence in government.”