A legal firm representing five candidates of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State has accused some party figures of attempting to undermine their nominations through political intimidation, protests and a petition against an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In a statement issued over the weekend and signed by its principal counsel, Bola Aidi, SAN, the firm urged INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders to respect court judgments affirming the candidacy of two of its clients and allow pending cases involving the remaining candidates to proceed without interference.
The firm represents Abdulmajid Isah Umar, who is contesting for Gwale Federal Constituency; Shaaban Ibrahim Sharada of Kano Municipal Federal Constituency; Barr. Ishmael Idris Sani of Kumbotso Federal Constituency; Ibrahim Bashiru Bango of Sumaila/Takai Federal Constituency; and Nasir Alli Ahmed of Nasarawa Federal Constituency.
The lawyer said the five candidates emerged through the party’s prescribed nomination processes, including the expression of interest, screening, clearance and primary elections.
The statement added that Appeal Panel 01, constituted under the NDC Constitution and Electoral Guidelines, also reaffirmed their candidacies.
The statement followed a petition dated October 16, purportedly written by Tahir Chambers on behalf of the NDC’s Kano State chapter against Mrs Hauwa Buhari, an INEC official, over alleged irregularities in reports concerning the party’s primary elections.
The firm questioned the timing of the petition, which came two days after the Federal High Court in Kano delivered judgments affirming the candidacies of two of its clients.
According to the lawyers, the petition and recent protests did not represent the position of the NDC’s state leadership, adding that the party chairman and some other leaders were allegedly unaware of the accusations against the INEC official.
“Our clients maintain that they emerged through the duly prescribed nomination processes of the NDC,” the statement said, adding that the candidates had complied with the party’s relevant requirements.
The firm alleged that certain individuals within the party’s Kano chapter were attempting to impose their political preferences on the party, INEC and the judiciary because they were dissatisfied with the emergence of the five candidates.
It further claimed that an influential party figure had expressed determination to prevent the candidates from contesting the forthcoming elections on the NDC platform.
However, the allegations against the unnamed political figure were not independently verified.
The statement also questioned the petition against Buhari, stating that, to their knowledge, the INEC official had discharged her statutory responsibilities. They said their clients denied any connection with the allegations against her.
The firm further argued that the controversy over the nominations overlooked previous legal action instituted by the NDC itself at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the statement, the party filed Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1628/2026, seeking an order compelling INEC to upload the names of its nominated candidates, including the five represented by the firm.
It said the court granted an interim order directing INEC to upload the affected candidates’ names, describing the development as significant to the ongoing dispute.
It questioned why individuals claiming to represent the party’s state chapter would subsequently challenge candidates whose recognition, they said, had already been pursued through proceedings initiated by the party’s national leadership.
The firm also cited letters issued by the NDC’s national leadership to INEC on July 12 and 14, 2026, alongside court filings, as documents it said should be considered in resolving the nomination dispute.
On the judgments delivered on October 14, the firm insisted that the decisions of the Federal High Court in Kano must be respected unless stayed, varied or set aside by a competent court.
It cited Section 287(3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides for the enforcement of Federal High Court decisions, arguing that dissatisfaction with a judgment should be addressed through lawful judicial procedures rather than protests or campaigns against public officials.
The firm also urged INEC to resist political pressure and discharge its responsibilities independently, guided by authentic electoral records, applicable electoral laws and subsisting court orders.
It called on the commission’s chairman and other officials to preserve original records relating to the disputed primaries, including records it said had been certified by INEC headquarters.
The lawyer further expressed concern that protests and public campaigns could affect pending court cases involving their clients, urging judicial officers to determine the matters based solely on the evidence and applicable law.
The firm said its clients had taken steps to involve the Nigeria Police Force to ensure that allegations of threats, intimidation and unlawful interference involving the candidates and judicial officers were investigated.
While acknowledging Nigerians’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and lawful protest, the firm warned that such rights should not be used to justify threats, harassment or interference with the administration of justice.
It urged the Inspector-General of Police and other security authorities to investigate reported threats and the circumstances surrounding the protests.
The firm maintained that its clients would continue to pursue their claims through the courts and would not abandon their political rights because of opposition from influential interests.
The statement concluded with a call for INEC, security agencies and other stakeholders to uphold the rule of law, protect the independence of electoral institutions and respect judicial decisions.
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