Kano ADC Plunges Into Leadership Crisis as Rival Faction Schedules Parallel Congress Despite Tripartite Power Sharing Agreement

A fresh leadership tussle rocks Kano ADC as a rival faction plans a parallel congress, threatening a power-sharing deal between Atiku, Kwankwaso, and Gawuna.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 18, 2026, 11:15 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Guardian Nigeria

Petitions Filed Amid Threats of Parallel Leadership

The Kano State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been hit by a fresh leadership tussle, prompting formal intervention requests to state security authorities. A prominent party support group has filed an official petition with the Kano State Commissioner of Police, warning of an impending parallel congress that could destabilize the party’s current structure. The group alleges that certain individuals are attempting to circumvent the established leadership, creating a situation that poses a legitimate threat to public peace and order within the state.

Breakdown of the Tripartite Consensus Formula

The current crisis emerges shortly after the ADC appeared to find stability through a high-profile consensus arrangement. Under this deal, the party’s 34-member state executive committee was formed based on a specific percentage-based sharing formula among three major political heavyweights. Reports indicate that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was allocated 40% of the slots, while the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and former Deputy Governor Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna each received 30%. This delicate balance was intended to unify diverse political interests under the ADC banner.

Security Concerns Over Unauthorized April 20 Gathering

The petition, signed by Support Group Chairman Hon. Muhammad Yusuf Babba Dan Agundi, highlights a specific meeting scheduled for April 20, 2026, along Murtala Muhammad Way in Kano. The group claims that organizers of this event are falsely representing themselves as authorized party officials. Proponents of the petition argue that allowing this unauthorized election to proceed would cause significant confusion among rank-and-file members and potentially ignite civil unrest, given the high stakes of Kano’s political environment.