The internal crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kano State chapter has recently become contentious due to a split following the ward congresses held recently.
This division is primarily characterised by two factions at odds over the legitimacy and conduct of the congresses.
The faction led by Sadiq Aminu Wali, PDP’s gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 elections, has publicly rejected the results of the ward congresses.
This faction claimed that the process was marred by a lack of transparency, inclusiveness, and fairness—principles fundamental to democratic practices within political parties.
In this development, the Wali faction has accused another group, led by former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau and former Senator Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, of hijacking the party structure for their own benefit, thereby excluding key stakeholders from the electoral process.
According to a statement signed by Muhaminnah Bako Lamido, spokesperson for Wali’s faction, several serious allegations were made regarding how the congresses were conducted.
The statement highlighted concerns about the deliberate exclusion of legitimate party members and irregularities observed during the exercise.
It emphasised that these procedural failings contradict the principles upheld by the PDP and undermine its commitment to internal democracy.
Wali expressed dismay over what he termed “procedural failings” and noted that despite attempts to engage relevant party organs to address these issues before the congresses, their concerns were disregarded.
This disregard has led to calls for urgent intervention from the PDP’s national leadership to rectify what they see as significant anomalies in how the Congress was managed.
“It is with deep concern that we note the deliberate exclusion of key stakeholders and legitimate party members in the build-up to the congresses, as well as several irregularities observed during the exercise,” the statement said.
In response to these allegations, Ibrahim Aminu Dan-Iya, organising secretary of PDP in Kano, dismissed the claims made by Wali’s faction.
According to him, the ward congress was conducted smoothly with support from all interested structures within the party, and he denied any wrongdoing on the part of Shekarau or Gwarzo.
This back and forth between factions illustrates a deepening rift within Kano’s PDP chapter, which could have implications for its unity and effectiveness as the party approaches critical upcoming elections.
Dan-Iya, however, stated that the Wali faction remains committed to upholding democratic principles and seeks redress through appropriate channels, while urging supporters to remain calm amid the turmoil.
The situation reflects broader challenges faced by political parties in maintaining unity amidst internal disagreements over leadership and procedural integrity.
As both factions continue to assert their positions, national leadership intervention remains crucial to prevent further fragmentation within Kano’s PDP.
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