BREAKING: INEC Excludes Kano NDC Governorship Candidate Aminu Gwarzo From Final List

BREAKING: INEC Excludes Kano NDC Governorship Candidate Aminu Gwarzo From Final List

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

The development represents a setback for the NDC in Kano, where Gwarzo had been selected to represent the party in the contest ahead of the February 6, 2027 governorship election.

Gwarzo's emergence as the party's candidate was announced in May 2026 by Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and former governor of Kano State. His selection followed consultations within the party, with the decision reportedly based on considerations including equity, fairness, loyalty and competence.

Gwarzo is a former deputy governor of Kano State who served alongside Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf before leaving office. His political experience and association with the Kwankwasiyya movement have made him a notable figure in the state's political landscape.

However, his reported exclusion from INEC's final list has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the decision and its possible implications for the NDC's participation in the forthcoming election.

The reasons for the exclusion have not been independently confirmed in the information currently available. It is also unclear whether the commission's decision is connected to documentation, compliance with electoral requirements, a legal dispute or another issue relating to the candidate's nomination.

The development is likely to draw attention to the procedures governing candidate nominations and the publication of final lists ahead of elections. Political parties are required to comply with the electoral commission's nomination procedures and applicable legal requirements.

Meanwhile, the NDC's position on the reported exclusion, including whether the party intends to challenge the decision or pursue any available legal remedy, remains unclear.

INEC has yet to be independently verified as having publicly explained the specific grounds for Gwarzo's reported exclusion.

Further details are awaited as the political parties prepare for the 2027 Kano governorship election.