A group of aggrieved members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kaduna State has called on the national leadership of the party to reverse what they described as the alleged substitution of Rakiya Baba Mohammed as the party’s candidate for the Kawo Constituency seat in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
The group made the demand in an open letter dated September 18, 2026, addressed to the national leadership of the party.
The letter read;
OPEN LETTER: TO THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF NDC.
From: Aggrieved Members of the NDC, Kaduna State.
Date: 18 September 2026.
Subject: Immediate and Unconditional Restoration of the Stolen Mandate of Rakiya Baba Mohammed (Rakiya Mohammed Baba) Kawo Constituency (Kaduna North) House of Assembly Seat.
We, the undersigned aggrieved members of NDC in Kaduna State, write this open letter to formally demand the immediate and unconditional restoration of the stolen mandate of our candidate, Rakiya Baba Mohammed (also known as Rakiya Asabe Nakorji), the legitimate NDC candidate for the Kaduna State House of Assembly seat representing Kawo Constituency (Kaduna North).
It is a matter of public record and deep institutional concern that the mandate freely and fairly given to Rakiya Baba Mohammed by the people and by the structures of our party has been unjustly taken. This is not a private grievance. It is a direct assault on the democratic will of our members, the integrity of our internal processes, and the credibility of the NDC itself.
Rakiya secured 225 votes in the primary election, while her rival polled 132 votes. Sadly, we have been reliably informed that some party officials substituted her with Yunusa Mohammed Salisu, whom she defeated in the May 29, 2026 primary election, and we are aware that the decision has been influenced by the candidate's father, Yunusa Tanko, Interim National Coordinator of Obidient Movement Worldwide.
Rakiya Baba Mohammed, won clean and clear and results were duly compiled and endorsed by the Returning Officer, an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and a security representative present at the exercise. According to facts available to us, the primary election was successfully conducted in four wards, while voting in the fifth ward, Badarawa/Malali, was cancelled after alleged disruptions by thugs.
On the 29th of May 2026, Rakiya herself and Yunusa Mohammed Salisu participated in our NDC primary elections, where Rakiya emerged victorious with 225 votes, while Yunusa Mohammed Salisu, scored 132 votes. The elections were concluded peacefully in four wards. However, in the fifth ward, which is Badarawa/Malali, Yunusa brought in thugs who are widely known across Kaduna, including unregistered and recycled members from previous wards where elections had already been concluded, as well as underage individuals. The above development will remain absolutely unacceptable, intolerable, outrageous, reprehensible, indefensible, unjustifiable and totally objectionable.
We therefore demand, without qualification or delay:
1) The immediate and unconditional restoration of Rakiya Baba Mohammed’s mandate as the NDC candidate for Kawo Constituency (Kaduna North) House of Assembly.
2) Full recognition and enforcement of her rightful candidacy by all relevant party organs at state and national levels.
3) An end to every form of internal manipulation, exclusion, or administrative sabotage that has so far denied her the position she legitimately earned.
4) We state clearly and for the record: this matter will be pursued to every legal, institutional, and democratic level necessary until her stolen mandate is fully restored. We will not rest, and we will not be silenced.
Furthermore, we issue a direct warning to Tanko, of the National Leadership of the Obidient movement. The ongoing attempt to intimidate those speaking out against this stolen mandate most notably through the lawsuit filed against Miss Nmaa Ukbapi, is unacceptable, anti-democratic, and will not succeed. Threats of legal harassment will neither silence legitimate dissent nor erase the facts of this injustice.
We put the leadership on notice: As a matter of urgent concern and action, we shall mobilise both local and international communities, civil society organisations, democratic institutions, and the wider public to stand with us in this struggle. The case of Rakiya Baba Mohammed will not be buried in silence or settled by intimidation. It will be prosecuted openly, lawfully, and with the full weight of collective resolve.
Justice delayed is justice denied. The mandate of Rakiya Baba Mohammed must be restored now unconditionally and without further obstruction.
We await your immediate action.
Signed,
Comrade. Silas Matthew Jonathan.
Garba sani ‐ kawo ward
Abdullahi jumaare - hanyin banki ward
Comrade mukhtar shehu - kawo ward
Abdulmalik Hassan - ungwan dosa ward
Comrade M. Bello - ungwan shanu/abakwa ward
Hauwa Mohammed - badarawa/malali ward.
On behalf of
aggrieved members of the NDC, Kaduna State, In defence of democracy, internal party justice, and the legitimate mandate of Rakiya Baba Mohammed.
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