Osa Director, spokesperson of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has dismissed reports that Rabiu Kwankwaso, the party’s vice-presidential candidate, threatened to leave the party over disagreements surrounding its structure in Kano State.
Speaking in an interview on Arise Television on Saturday, Director described the reports as speculation designed to create division within the opposition party.
Earlier reports had claimed that Kwankwaso was dissatisfied with a proposed 60:40 power-sharing arrangement in Kano State, under which his Kwankwasiyya bloc would control 60 percent of the party structure and elective positions, while members of the NDC who were in the party before his arrival would retain 40 percent.
Reacting to the reports, Director said there was never any threat by the former Kano governor to quit the party.
“At no time did our leader, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, threaten to leave the party,” he said.
“Those were just conjectures and media speculations trying to destabilise the party.”
When asked who might be behind such reports, Director pointed fingers at rival political parties.
“Those who don’t want to see us succeed,” he said.
“The opposition political parties, and of course the governing party, because they are the ones in power and have all the facilities and strength to do whatever they want to do.”
The NDC’s publicity secretary alleged that political opponents were sponsoring divisions within the party, citing what he described as attempts to undermine some of its candidates.
THE KANO DISAGREEMENT
He, however, acknowledged that disagreements emerged in Kano following the integration of the Kwankwasiyya movement into the party.
According to him, the issues stemmed from concerns raised by members who belonged to the NDC before Kwankwaso joined the party.
“The truth is that he met with the leadership of the NDC when this disagreement became public,” he said.
“They had fruitful discussions because there were members who are called legacy members of the NDC who started the party before the Kwankwasiyya movement came in.”
Director said both groups had agreed that all members should be accommodated regardless of when they joined the party.
“Right now, we are equal joiners and equal funders,” he said.
“So there is no need to say this person came before or this person came later. In that spirit, everybody should be accommodated in participating and contesting for elective positions.”
He added that the dispute had been resolved.
“As of today, we have agreed,” he said.
The comments come days after Henry Seriake Dickson, national leader of the NDC, disclosed that ongoing efforts were being made to formally integrate both the Obidient Movement and the Kwankwasiyya Movement into the party’s structures across the country.
Dickson said the integration was part of efforts to strengthen party cohesion and ensure that support groups operate within the framework of the NDC rather than as parallel organisations.
