The Chairman, Nigeria Democratic Congress in Kano State, Usaini Isa Mai Riga, has firmly rejected moves to hand over the party structure to former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Post on Monday, Mai Riga disclosed that talks aimed at reaching a compromise ahead of Kwankwaso’s entry into the party had collapsed, despite two separate meetings to resolve leadership issues.
“He wants us to hand over the entire party to him, despite the sacrifices and time we invested in nurturing it when it had little or no attention,” Mai Riga said.
The chairman insisted that such a demand was unacceptable, vowing that the current leadership would resist any attempt to cede control of the party structure.
“This will not happen. We will pursue all legitimate avenues to ensure that Kwankwaso does not take over the party structure from us,” he added.
Mai Riga further revealed that he had been instructed by the party’s national leadership to suspend the planned state congress.
Congress on hold
“We were asked not to hold our congress because there are plans to hand over the party to Kwankwaso.
“That is why you see me here instead of at the congress venue.
“We will not allow the rights of party members to be undermined. We do not support injustice,” he vowed.
The remarks mark Mai Riga’s first public response following Kwankwaso’s entry into the party, just 24 hours after receiving his membership card.
The former governor, who leads the Kwankwasiyya movement, arrived in Kano on Monday and is expected to meet with key allies to discuss leadership structure and political positioning.
However, Mai Riga noted that Kwankwaso has yet to formally engage with the state party leadership, further deepening the uncertainty surrounding the party’s future in Kano.
