The internal dispute over the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) ticket for Kawo Constituency in Kaduna State has intensified following a fresh demand by aggrieved party members for the restoration of Rakiya Baba Mohammed as the party’s candidate.
The members, in an open letter addressed to the national leadership of the NDC on September 18, 2026, said their demand was based on the outcome of the party’s primary election conducted on May 29.
They claimed that Rakiya polled 225 votes to defeat Yunusa Mohammed Salisu, who they said scored 132 votes.https://theintelligence.com.ng/2027-balarabe-toto-apc-reconciliation-tashas/
According to the group, the election was successfully concluded in four wards, while the exercise in Badarawa/Malali Ward was cancelled following alleged disruptions.
The members said the results from the concluded wards were compiled and endorsed by the Returning Officer and security personnel present at the election.
They subsequently accused some party officials of attempting to substitute Rakiya with Salisu.
The group also alleged that the development was influenced by Yunusa Tanko, whom they identified as the father of Salisu and an Interim National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide.
Those claims are allegations contained in the open letter and have not been independently verified.
Public reports, meanwhile, indicate that Yunusa Muhammad Salisu was later published as the NDC candidate for the Kawo State House of Assembly constituency ahead of the 2027 election.
The development has therefore become the centre of an internal disagreement over the party’s nomination process.
The aggrieved members demanded that the NDC national leadership review the circumstances surrounding the primary and restore Rakiya’s candidacy.
https://theintelligence.com.ng/2027-balarabe-toto-apc-reconciliation-tashas/
They also demanded that all relevant party organs recognise and enforce what they described as her rightful nomination.
The group warned against what it called manipulation, exclusion and administrative interference in the party’s internal processes.
It also accused unnamed actors of attempting to intimidate people speaking publicly about the matter.
The members referenced a lawsuit reportedly filed against Miss Nmaa Ukbapi, describing the legal action as part of what they characterised as attempts to silence
https://guardian.ng/news/dss-re-arraigns-five-suspects-linked-to-oriire-abduction/
They said they would pursue the matter through legal and institutional avenues and would engage civil society organisations and democratic institutions.
The petition was signed by Comrade Silas Matthew Jonathan and other members representing different wards in Kaduna North.
The signatories said their action was aimed at defending internal democracy and party justice.
