Five candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State have petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging attempts by influential party figures to undermine their candidature ahead of the forthcoming general elections.
The candidates accused some officials of the party’s Kano State chapter of using protests, petitions and media campaigns to challenge their emergence, despite court judgments they said had affirmed the candidature of two of them.
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In a petition addressed to the INEC Chairman through the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano, the candidates urged the commission to resist alleged attempts to intimidate its officials and influence pending court cases.
The petition, signed by their counsel, Bola Aidi, SAN, was filed in response to an earlier petition dated October 16, 2026, reportedly submitted by Tahir Chambers on behalf of the Kano State chapter of the NDC against an INEC official, Mrs Hauwa Buhari.
The affected candidates are Abdulmajid Isah Umar of Gwale, Shaaban Ibrahim Sharada of Kano Municipal, Barr. Ismaeel Idris Sani of Kumbotso, Hon. Ibrahim Bashiru Bango of Sumaila/Takai and Hon. Nasir Alli Ahmed of Nasarawa.
According to the petition, the candidates completed the party’s prescribed nomination processes, including purchasing expression of interest and nomination forms, screening, clearance and participation in the relevant primaries.
Aidi alleged that some Kano NDC officials, acting at the instance of an influential political leader dissatisfied with the outcome of the primaries, were seeking to prevent the candidates from contesting the elections.
He said the party’s national leadership had recognised their nominations and subsequently approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel INEC to upload their names.
The counsel cited Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1628/2026, reportedly instituted by the NDC, in which the party sought judicial intervention to secure recognition for its nominated candidates. He claimed that an interim order was obtained directing INEC to upload their names, among others.
“It is therefore remarkable that persons purporting to act for the Kano State Chapter of the same political party now seek to discredit the candidature of persons whose recognition and uploading the party itself had previously sought through judicial proceedings,” the petition stated.
Aidi further disclosed that the Federal High Court in Kano delivered judgments on October 14, 2026, affirming the candidature of two of the five candidates.
He alleged that subsequent protests in Kano and Abuja were reactions to the court decisions and part of efforts to influence the remaining cases.
The petition also addressed allegations against Mrs Buhari, who was accused by the petitioners of issuing multiple inconsistent and undated monitoring reports concerning the party’s primaries.
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However, Aidi urged INEC to investigate the allegations impartially, transparently and on the basis of credible evidence rather than dismissing them without scrutiny.
He argued that discrepancies in official documents did not automatically establish that reports supporting his clients’ candidature were fraudulent.
“While no official of INEC is above legitimate scrutiny or investigation, the Commission must be careful not to permit its disciplinary and administrative mechanisms to become instruments of political persecution against officials merely because the contents of electoral monitoring records do not accord with the wishes of certain political interests,” he stated.
The senior advocate also warned against attempts to influence judicial officers handling the outstanding disputes through demonstrations and media campaigns, insisting that court decisions should be respected unless overturned by a competent court.
He cited Sections 158(1) and 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, in support of INEC’s institutional independence and the obligation to enforce decisions of the Federal High Court.
According to the petition, the candidates had also taken steps to involve the Nigeria Police Force in investigating alleged threats, intimidation and possible unlawful interference with judicial proceedings.
The counsel clarified that his clients were not opposed to peaceful protests or the constitutional right to petition public authorities.
“Our Clients do not seek to prevent any person from exercising the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, lawful protest or petition. Their concern is directed strictly at any unlawful conduct or intimidation that may accompany or underlie such activities,” he explained.
The candidates asked INEC to preserve all original monitoring reports, official correspondence, electronic records and other documents relating to the disputed primaries in Kano State.
They also urged the commission to give effect to the subsisting Federal High Court judgments, subject to any lawful order staying, varying or setting them aside.
Other demands included maintaining neutrality in the dispute, protecting electoral officials from improper pressure and avoiding administrative actions that could prejudice the pending court cases.
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Aidi warned that allowing protests, petitions or media campaigns to override documented nomination processes and subsisting court decisions could set a dangerous precedent for Nigeria’s electoral system.
He urged INEC to uphold the rule of law and protect the electoral rights of the five candidates, irrespective of the political interests involved.
