The Kano State Police Command has invited Aminu Abdullahi Warkal, a candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), for questioning over an alleged display of a firearm at a political gathering in the state.

Warkal, who is contesting for the Gwale Constituency seat in the Kano State House of Assembly, was invited after a video circulating on social media allegedly showed him holding what appeared to be a pump-action rifle during a political event.

The development was disclosed by the Kano State Police spokesperson, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, in a statement issued on Monday.

According to Kiyawa, police operatives encountered the video during routine cyber patrol and intelligence-led surveillance of political activities in the state.

The command said the alleged display of a firearm, if established, could constitute a violation of the Firearms Act and potentially threaten public peace and security.

“On the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, the said Hon. Aminu Abdullahi Warkal was invited to the Command Headquarters, Bompai, Kano,” Kiyawa said.

“He is currently at the Command’s State Intelligence Department (SID) and investigation is in progress.”

The alleged incident reportedly occurred during a political gathering in the Janbulo area of Gwale Local Government Area.

A video of the event has since circulated online, with reports alleging that Warkal was seen holding what appeared to be a pump-action rifle while surrounded by supporters.

However, the police have not publicly established whether the object was a functional firearm or whether it was legally licensed.

The command also did not state that the weapon was discharged or announce any criminal charge against Warkal, stressing that the investigation is ongoing.

The Kano Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, warned politicians and their supporters against carrying or displaying weapons during political activities.

Kiyawa quoted the commissioner as saying the command would 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 police urged political candidates, their supporters and other stakeholders to conduct their activities peacefully and comply with the Electoral Act, Firearms Act and other relevant laws.

The command said it would continue to monitor political activities across Kano State and take measures against conduct capable of triggering violence or disrupting public order ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The latest invitation is not the first time Warkal has come under scrutiny from security agencies over his political activities.

In February 2026, Amnesty International Nigeria alleged that Warkal, whom it described as a social media influencer and critic of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, was detained for several hours over allegations of cyberbullying the governor.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) had also previously expressed concern over the alleged arrest and invitation of critics and social media commentators in Kano, listing Warkal among those reportedly affected.

The rights groups had raised concerns about the implications of such actions for freedom of expression.

Warkal is now being questioned over a separate allegation involving the purported display of a firearm at a political gathering.

The Kano State Police Command said its investigation into the latest incident is ongoing.

Nigeria’s National Register of Voters has risen above 103 million following the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and a final biometric cleanup, the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Monday at a one-day strategic workshop for editors organised by the Nigerian Guild of Editors in collaboration with the commission in Abuja.

According to Amupitan, the three phases of the CVR exercise generated 10,772,421 new registrations, which were subjected to verification through the Automated Biometric Identification System.

He said the commission had completed the public display of the Preliminary Register for claims and objections as well as the final ABIS cleanup, bringing the national voter register to more than 103 million.

“Following the conclusion of our three-phase Continuous Voter Registration exercise, which captured over 10.6 million new applicants, and the completion of the public display of the Preliminary Register for claims and objections, our Voter Register Department has completed the final Automated Biometric Identification System cleanup. Nigeria’s National Register of Voters is now over 103 million,” Amupitan said.

The latest figure represents a significant increase from the over 93 million registered voters recorded before the CVR exercise.

INEC had earlier projected that the register would cross the 100 million mark after the conclusion of the registration exercise.

The commission also announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards will begin on Friday, October 9, 2026.

Amupitan said Phase 1 PVCs had been processed and distributed to all local government centres ahead of the commencement of collection.

He urged the media to sensitise Nigerians on the collection process, including the locations of collection centres, and encourage registered voters to obtain their cards promptly.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the INEC chairman further disclosed that the commission had acquired 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices.

He said the new BVAS machines had undergone software hardening, battery optimisation and biometric calibration as part of measures to prevent accreditation bypass and curb manual manipulation.

Amupitan said the commission had also strengthened its technological and cybersecurity infrastructure to improve the credibility and security of the electoral process.

The 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6.

On vote-buying, the INEC chairman said the commission had adopted a firm position against the practice and strengthened its collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice and anti-corruption agencies.

He said joint financial monitoring teams would be deployed to track illegal campaign spending and conduct surveillance at polling units across the country.

Amupitan warned political parties and candidates against attempting to induce voters with cash, stressing that anyone found engaging in vote-buying would face arrest and prosecution under the Electoral Act 2026.

“Elections must be decided by the conviction of the voter, not the depth of a candidate’s pocket,” he said.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed allegations that its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, is working with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the opposition party and its presidential ticket.

The party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, described the allegation as “malicious lies” and insisted that Dickson had no secret or open arrangement with the APC.

The NDC said it would ordinarily have ignored what it described as rumours and “beer-parlour talk” but decided to respond because repeated unchallenged allegations could eventually be accepted as truth.

“Our National Leader, Distinguished Senator Seriake Dickson, is not a front for the ruling APC or anyone else. He has no secret or open deal whatsoever with the ruinous and diabolical APC regime,” the statement said.

The party argued that Dickson’s political record did not support the allegation, noting that he could have joined the APC but instead chose to remain with the NDC and participate in building the party.

According to the NDC, Dickson’s record during his years in the Senate demonstrated what it described as his “consistent, courageous and principled position” on national issues.

The party further alleged that the accusations were being promoted by political opponents who, it claimed, were concerned about the growing acceptance of the NDC across the country.

The NDC urged its members, supporters and well-wishers to remain focused on the party’s political activities and work towards the success of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and other candidates contesting under the party’s platform.

The statement called on party supporters to remain steadfast, declaring: “Together, we stand. Together, we shall win.”

The NDC also reaffirmed its campaign message that “A New Nigeria is Possible.”

A video circulating on social media has sparked controversy after a man identified as Aminu Warkal, said to be the National Democratic Congress (NDC) State House of Assembly candidate for Gwale Local Government Area of Kano State, was seen displaying what appeared to be a firearm at a campaign rally.

The incident reportedly occurred during a rally held in support of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in Kano over the weekend.

In the video, Warkal, dressed in the red cap associated with the Kwankwasiyya movement, was seen standing on the running board of an SUV while holding what appeared to be a gun in one hand and waving to supporters with the other.

The footage was shared on X on Monday by a user, Emma Ik Umeh, who called on the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the incident.

“Is it legal for NDC/Kwankwasiyya supporter to campaign with a gun and allegedly fire it almost three times into the air?” Umeh wrote, tagging the police and urging the authorities to take action.

The video has since generated reactions online, with questions raised over the presence and alleged display of a firearm at a political gathering.

However, it could not be independently established whether the object displayed in the footage was a functional firearm, nor whether Warkal was authorised to possess or carry one.

The development comes amid heightened political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political parties and their supporters holding rallies and mobilisation exercises across the country.

Nigeria’s electoral laws place restrictions on the use of force, intimidation and armed groups during political campaigns and rallies.

The Electoral Act also contains provisions prohibiting political parties, candidates and their supporters from employing or organising persons for the display of physical force or coercion in pursuit of political objectives.

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the NDC, the candidate or the Nigeria Police Force confirming whether the incident had been reported or whether an investigation had commenced.