Mustapha Kwankwaso’s nomination as deputy governorship candidate undermines movement’s populist, inclusive ideals — Muhammad, others

Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the first son of vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was nominated as the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) deputy governorship candidate for the 2027 election in Kano State. The decision has sparked debate over merit and the ideological direction of the Kwankwasiyya movement, long associated with populism and inclusion. Professor Murtala Muhammad, Vice-President of the Nigerian Political Science Association, argued that the nomination favors lineage over competition among qualified loyalists, potentially undermining the movement's grassroots appeal.