2027: INEC omits NDC’s Gwarzo from Kano governorship candidates’ list

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has omitted Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the alleged governorship candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), from its final list of candidates for the 2027 Kano State governorship election.

The list, signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony, contains 17 governorship candidates and their running mates but features neither Gwarzo nor any candidate representing the NDC.

A review of the three-page document shows that the candidates listed include Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Abacha Muhammed Sani of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside candidates from several other political parties.

Other parties represented on the list include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Action Alliance (AA), African Action Congress (AAC), Action Democratic Party (ADP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and New Democratic Party (NDP).

The document contains candidates’ names, political affiliations, ages, genders and educational qualifications, alongside details of their deputy governorship candidates.

However, INEC did not provide an explanation for the NDC’s absence from the published list.

It remains unclear whether the omission is connected to the party’s nomination process, documentation or another issue.

The absence of the NDC and Gwarzo raises questions about the party’s participation in the Kano governorship race, although the published list does not establish the reason for their exclusion.