A candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Gwale State House of Assembly seat in Kano State, Aminu Abdullahi Warkal has sparked controversy after appearing in a video with a firearm during a political gathering.
Warkal was seen displaying what appeared to be a pump-action rifle as supporters gathered around him.
The footage, which has circulated on social media, has raised concerns over the growing presence of weapons around political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Warkal is an NDC candidate in Kano and is associated with the Kwankwasiyya political movement led by former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The NDC is backing the Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso presidential ticket for the 2027 election.
Warkal’s supporters have sought to portray the appearance of the weapon as a response to what they describe as threats against the opposition and concerns about attempts to manipulate the electoral process.
However, there has been no official confirmation that the firearm was lawfully carried for the particular political gathering or that it was displayed in response to a specific threat.
The development has now moved beyond social media controversy.
The Kano State Police Command on Monday, October 5, invited Warkal for questioning over the alleged display of the firearm.
The police said the video came to its attention during routine cyber patrol.
According to the command, the weapon seen in the footage was suspected to be a pump-action rifle.
Watch the video:
The police said it was investigating whether the display amounted to an offence under the Firearms Act.
Warkal was reportedly at the State Intelligence Department of the Kano State Police Command headquarters in Bompai as investigators began examining the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The police said the display of a weapon at a political gathering could create fear and intimidate members of the public.
It also warned that political status would not protect anyone found to have violated the law.
“The Commissioner of Police strongly warns that the Command will not tolerate any act of lawlessness, thuggery, or display of weapons capable of threatening public peace, irrespective of the status of the person involved,” the command said.
The police further urged politicians, political supporters and other stakeholders to comply with the Electoral Act, the Firearms Act and other laws guiding political activities.
The command said campaigns and other political engagements should be conducted peacefully and with respect for other participants.
Kwankwaso remains a major political figure in Kano. His Kwankwasiyya movement has a strong grassroots structure and a large following among young people in the state.
Warkal himself has previously been associated with the movement.
In January 2026, he spoke on behalf of Kwankwasiyya-affiliated youths during an engagement in Kano, where he raised concerns about youth participation in governance.
He later emerged as the NDC candidate for the Gwale State House of Assembly contest.
In a related development, The Independent National Electoral Commission has also expressed concern over the growing use of inflammatory rhetoric and violence in political activities.
Speaking on Monday, October 5, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan warned political parties, candidates and campaign managers against allowing political competition to turn violent.
“As electioneering intensifies across the country, I must sound a clear note of warning to all political parties, candidates and campaign managers: INEC will not stand by and allow political competition to devolve into violence, intimidation or inflammatory rhetoric.”
Amupitan said the commission had activated an early-warning system through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to monitor political violence, thuggery and dangerous campaign rhetoric.
He also warned that political parties and candidates linked to violent conduct could face sanctions.
“Democracy thrives on the clash of ideas, not the clash of weapons or the proliferation of hate speech,” he said.
The INEC chairman went further by referring directly to the Kano incident.
“Just before I was invited to come and speak, somebody shared with me… a person, an NDC candidate in Kano State, who was campaigning yesterday with a gun in his hands, brandishing the gun, and so on and so forth.”
He also disclosed that another person had allegedly threatened members of the electoral commission with AK-47 rifles.
“Another person was threatening that with AK-47s, they will kill all of us in the Commission. So, that is how elections have turned into in Nigeria of today,” Amupitan said.
