The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the controversy surrounding the temporary omission and subsequent restoration of its Kano State governorship candidate, Aminu Gwarzo, from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s candidate list as a development that ultimately strengthened the party’s support base.
Speaking on Friday, Gwarzo’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, said the party was never worried by the earlier omission because it was confident that all legal and electoral requirements had been fulfilled during the nomination process.
According to him, party leaders believed the situation was only a temporary setback that would eventually be resolved in their favour.
“We were not frightened because we followed all the laid-down procedures from party membership to the nomination process and submission of our candidate’s details,” Shuaibu said.
He maintained that the restoration of Gwarzo’s name by INEC did not come as a surprise to party members, who remained convinced that the omission would be corrected after due review.
Shuaibu further argued that the controversy generated widespread public attention and sympathy for the party, leading to increased support across the state.
“What the electoral commission intended as a setback has actually worked in our favour. It has increased our supporters, strengthened our popularity and made more people identify with us,” he stated.
The spokesperson added that the NDC would continue its voter mobilisation efforts and intensify campaigns aimed at promoting its policies and programmes ahead of the 2027 elections.
He expressed confidence that the development would enhance the party’s chances in the forthcoming Kano governorship contest.
The comments followed INEC’s decision to restore Gwarzo’s name to the list of recognised candidates after an earlier omission sparked political debate and reactions from supporters of the NDC.