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Kwankwaso’s Rising Popularity Unsettles Political Opponents

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Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso

 

 

By Abdulmalik Suleiman

 

There appears to be some form of unease within the two dominant political parties of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the rising popularity of former Kano State Governor, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

 

Kwakwanso is a two-term governor of Kano State who had in the past contested the presidency twice on the platform of the two opposing political platforms in 2015 and 2019.

 

Though he has not signified his intention to contest in 2023, gladiators in the two political parties have been in the high frenzy over the rising popularity of the leader of the Kwankwassiya movement regarding the rumored bid and what it (the bid) portends for their own aspirations should the former federal lawmaker decide to throw his hat into the ring.

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Sources close to the former Minister of Defence stated that Kwankwaso has become the toast of the leadership of the two political parties who have been wooing him to be in their respective platforms ahead of the forthcoming poll.

 

According to sources, the reason for this might not be unconnected to the grassroots appeal of the former governor, which they (sources) claim to be close to the type enjoyed by incumbent Muhammadu Buhari pre-2015 when he was the toast of the commoners in the North.

 

“The followership of Kwankwaso in the North can only be compared to that enjoyed by General Muhammadu Buhari in the North before the 2015 general elections,” a source said, adding that no political party worth its salt would toy with the possibility of having the former governor within its fold in the build-up to the forthcoming election.

 

It’s said that a famous ambassador in Kwankwaso’s home state was contracted to sow the seeds of discord in PDP by floating an illegal factional leadership in the state to create squabbles and instability in the party in order to distract Kwankwaso presidential bids.

 

Tongues are wagging that the state governor and some powerful PDP chieftains were behind the several plots to make PDP comatose in Kano and render Kwankwaso irrelevant. But all the plots have collapsed like a house of cards owing to an appeal court ruling fortnight ago that affirms the wards, LG, and state congresses of Kwankwaso’s faction and endorsed by the national body of the PDP.

 

Findings reveal that the cult-like followership of the former Senator has prompted one of the front liners in the PDP and former Vice President of the country, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to begin moves to wrest the presidential ticket of the party from Kwakwanso.

 

Top members of the PDP liken the decision of the former vice president to kick start his presidential bid in 2023 with the launch of his various support groups recently as largely due to the influence of Kwakwanso whom many people in the party see as the viable alternative to the Adamawa born Atiku who had tried about trice to clinch the plum office in the past.

 

Members of the PDP see Kwakwanso as the viable alternative to Atiku whom many see as having passed his prime with less appeal to the grassroots compared to the Kano-born politician.

 

Though the third popular northern candidate seems to be Sokoto State governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal who is said to come a distant third in the ranking, the race for the ticket of the PDP seems to have been narrowed down to Atiku and Kwakwanso.

 

“PDP is desirous of staging a comeback to power and the only viable politician who can make that happen is Kwakwanso. He has that grassroots appeal that no party can deny or toy with. We know this in the PDP and we won’t joke with it.” A member of the National Working Committee of the party stated recently.

 

Sources within the PDP stated that though the party has not stated expressly where the Presidential slot would be zoned to but the calculations are that wherever it would be, Kwakwanso would feature prominently in the arrangement either as the major or junior partner in the ticket.

 

Kwakwanso’s grassroots appeal is also generating serious ripples in the APC as top members of the party are also said to be looking at his direction in the build-up to the poll.

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Some members of the party are said to have reached out to the former minister with a view to returning him back to the APC which he was a founding member with a view to bringing him on board as the third force in the already divided party.

 

“We know the importance of Kwakwanso in the nation’s political circle. We know how potent his Kwakwassiyya Movement is not only in the North but across the country. We are making concerted efforts to bring him back on board to see how we can make him the flag bearer of the party in 2023,” a source within the party said.

 

 

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Politics

200,000 APC Members in Kano Dismiss Allegations Against Ministerial Nominee Yusuf Abdullah Atta as Baseless

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Over 200,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State have dismissed allegations of incompetence against the ministerial nominee, retired Hon. Yusuf Abdullah Atta, as baseless. Some APC members in Kano believe the allegations stem from personal grudges held by a few individuals who are not legitimate members of the party.

In a statement, Mustapha Gidan Magani, the secretary of APC Kwaciri Ward, on behalf of the entire executive committee of APC Fagge Local Government Area, rejected the allegations of anti-party activities during the 2023 general election. The executives argued that those intending to submit a petition to the Senate, claiming to represent 50,000 APC members, have no legal standing to make such claims.

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The APC executives from Fagge Local Government Area are prepared to counter the petition, asserting that it will have little impact on the confirmation of Atta as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development. They expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for nominating Atta, highlighting his administrative skills and dedication to serving humanity.

 

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PDP Youth Activist Calls for Suspension of Shekarau, Bello Hayatu from the party

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Salisu Usman Karaskabuli, a youth activist of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano, has called for the immediate suspension of several high-ranking party members, including former governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, and Yahaya Bagobiri.

He accused them of sabotaging the party’s efforts in the state and hindering PDP’s progress in the region.

Addressing journalists in Kano, Salisu Karaskabuli alleged that Shekarau has engaged in anti-party activities during the 2023 governorship election.
“Despite being a PDP leader, the majority of his supporters backed the APC candidate,” Salisu Karaskabuli said.
He further claimed that Shekarau is already mobilizing his supporters to work for Senator Barau’s governorship ambitions in 2027, signaling ongoing disloyalty.

Salisu Karaskabuli also blamed the PDP National Vice Chairman for the Northwest Bello Hayatu Gwarzo for failing to unite the party across the region.
He noted that prominent PDP members, such as former governors Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Ramalan Yero of Kaduna, had defected to other parties due to Gwarzo’s ineffective leadership.
Concerning the recent PDP congress in Kano, Usman expressed frustration, rejecting the outcomes of the ward, local government, and state congresses.
He accused the leadership of the party for partisan zoning and disqualifying candidates without valid reasons.

Further accusations were leveled at Yahaya Bagobiri, the chairman of PDP elders in Kano.
Salisu Usman claimed that Bagobiri had leaked sensitive party information to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.

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Usman Karaskabuli called on the national leadership of the PDP to investigate the accused members and, if found guilty, take appropriate disciplinary action.

The accusations come at a time when the PDP in Kano and the wider Northwest is grappling with internal divisions, which some fear could weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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APC Youth Activist Urges President Tinubu to Appoint Murtala Sule Garo as Minister

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Sadiq Ali Sango

 

Sadiq Ali Sango, a prominent youth activist of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider appointing Murtala Sule Garo as a minister in the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle.
Sango made this known in a statement released to journalists in Kano.

The Federal Government recently announced that President Tinubu would soon reshuffle his cabinet, sparking widespread speculation over potential new appointees.
Sango expressed optimism that Garo, a grassroots politician with a proven track record, would be a fitting choice for a ministerial position.

“Murtala Sule Garo is not only a politician but a true son of the soil, with immense contributions to the APC in Kano,” Sango stated.
“His service as the APC’s deputy gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election and his unwavering commitment to the party despite not having the reins of government in Kano makes him the ideal candidate for Tinubu’s cabinet.”

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Sango further highlighted Garo’s role in holding the party together during difficult times, describing him as the “supporting pillar” of the APC in Kano.
“He has carried the party on his shoulders, providing support to party leaders and members alike,” he added.

With the APC no longer in control of Kano State’s government, Garo’s influence at the grassroots level has been pivotal for the party’s continued strength in the region.
According to Sango, Garo’s appointment would reinforce the party’s position in Kano and contribute to the success of President Tinubu’s administration.

The call for Murtala Sule Garo’s inclusion in the Federal Executive Council comes amid growing anticipation regarding the composition of the new cabinet and the need for strong political figures to represent Kano at the national level.

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