NBA Asks Police to Probe Kwankwaso Over Comments on Kano Governorship Election Case.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline, Abuja
February 8, 2026.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has formally called on the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to investigate claims suggesting interference in the judicial process, following comments allegedly made by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the NBA disclosed that it had resolved to submit a petition requesting a thorough and independent investigation into the matter, citing concerns over the integrity and independence of Nigeria’s judicial system.
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The decision follows public remarks attributed to Kwankwaso, in which he reportedly claimed that during the 2019 Kano State governorship election crisis, he personally took Abba Kabir Yusuf to meet Justices of the Supreme Court after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the election inconclusive.
According to the NBA, such statements—if true—have the potential to seriously undermine public confidence in the judiciary, particularly regarding its independence, impartiality, and role in the adjudication of electoral disputes.
“The Association views allegations or insinuations of direct engagement with judicial officers in pending or concluded electoral matters as grave,” the NBA noted. “Such claims risk eroding trust in the justice system and weakening the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral dispute resolution framework.”
The legal body was, however, careful to clarify that its action does not amount to a declaration of guilt against the former Kano State governor.
“Our petition should not be misconstrued as a prejudgment of the issues involved,” the statement emphasized. “Rather, it is a call for a transparent, impartial, and professional investigation to establish the facts and protect the sanctity of the judiciary.”
The NBA further reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to the rule of law, constitutionalism, and the protection of judicial independence, stressing that no individual—regardless of political status or influence—should act in a manner that brings the courts into disrepute.
Legal analysts say the development adds a new dimension to ongoing national conversations about electoral integrity, political accountability, and the boundaries between politics and the judiciary in Nigeria’s democracy.
As of the time of filing this report, Senator Kwankwaso had not issued an official response to the NBA’s position.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, FEBRUARY 8TH 2026)
