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APC Crises : Gov. Ganduje backs Danzago as battle for governorship gathers Momentum

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Alhaji Ahmad Haruna Zago

 

The All Progressives Congress in Kano will face a serious internal crisis ahead of the state congress of the party that’s coming in few months.

This is coming after the National Caretaker Extra-ordinary Committee of the party led by governor Mai Mala Buni plans to conduct Congress for party executives at states and zonal level.

In Kano, the state party chairman Abdullahi Abbas who is in his second term at helm of the party’s affairs, he came in since the beginning of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s first term and got reelected for a second term until when the Caretaker Committee of the party decided to dissolve all state chapters last year.

It’s clear that the battle for the state Chairmanship of the party will plunge it to a serious crisis as some aspirants have indicated interest for the seat.

Among them is Ahmadu Haruna Zago, a former chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change in Kano.

His posters and campaign billboards are all over strategic location in the state, he is seen closely to the governor and in all party functions.

According to some analysts, Danzago has the blessing of the governor which led some stakeholders of the party to wake up against his aspiration.

Not Danzago alone, others that have interest to contest for the position but have not make it public are Bala Muhammad Gwagwarwa, a former National Treasurer of APC and Murtala Alhassan Zainawa, a chieftain of the party in the state.

Top party men close to the governor revealed that he will support Danzago who has been in consultation with party stakeholders across the state.

This development may not mean well for the incumbent chairman Abdullahi Abbas who is in the same camp with Murtala Sule Garo, a Commissioner for local government in Kano.

Garo and Abdullahi Abbas are said to be supporting the governorship aspiration of the Deputy Governor Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna. They are seeing Danzago as a threat to their candidate.

It’s said that the governor is against such move by Abbas and Garo but secretly supporting the Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation Sen. Barau I Jibrin in his governorship aspiration.

Kano To Prosecute Owners Of Filling Stations With No Firefighting Equipments

Though, Barau is enjoying the support of the governor secretly, that does not hold water for him as the state first lady Hafsat Ganduje popularly known as Goggo is backing Abbas and Garo who are at the forefront of Gawuna’s aspiration.

The duo are yet to bring their candidate for party Chairmanship against Danzago.

This paper reliably gathered that the camp of the Deputy Governor led by Abbas and Garo will not support Gwagwarwa or Abdullahi Abbas as the both cannot be controlled by them looking at their political experience.

Battle for Governorship

So far the party has the highest number of aspirants for the number one seat in Kano. So many aspirants have indicated interest with their posters all over the city of kano wishing people a Happy Sallah during the eidl fitr festivities.

Among them are Sen. Barau I Jibrin who has the support of the governor secretly according to insiders. He’s a two term Senator and former member of the House of Representatives. He chairs the senate Committee on Appropriation and is seen as one of the top aspirants with experience and resources to battle for the hot seat.

Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna

He is a former Chairman of Nassarawa Local Government and his performance in that position was very poor. He served as Commissioner for Agriculture between 2013-2015 and 2015-2018 where he was appointed as Deputy Governor of Kano by Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje following the resignation of Prof. Hafiz Abubakar as Deputy Governor.

He holds a Degree in Biochemistry from Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto. He is very diplomatic in politics and ambitious. He’s the backing of majority APC stakeholders with the Ganduje family who have a critical role on who the governorship ticket should go to.

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Hafsat Ganduje, the governor’s wife is supporting Gawuna for the race to which some analysts saw as a win win for him.

But in terms of competence and track record, Gawuna is very poor and will not make a good governor for Kano.

“He’s yet to bring his ambition out and Kano needs someone that’s very radical to attend to the mess Ganduje has plunged the state to” Mallam Sani Saidu, a lecturer with the Department of English in BUK said.

In terms of resources, Gawuna cannot come out victorious while the likes of Barau and Waya are in the race.

Inuwa Waya

Though he is yet to resign from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation but Waya is very serious in the race looking at how he is making consultations within the party. It’s said that the governor gave Inuwa Waya the go ahead of moving with his campaign touches and has assured him of his maximum support. A move that some people saw as playing with the intelligence of Waya by the governor.

Inuwa, a lawyer was the Director in charge of legal services of the NNPC before he was moved to another directorate recently.

“Ganduje is not reliable as he speaks from the both sides of his mouth; he may show you that he is with you today and another person the following day”. A source within the party said.

Muazu Magaji

A reputable Engineer that was trained at Bayero University, Kano and Robert Gordon in the UK, Muazu has a very rich CV and Blueprint to lead the Centre of Commerce.

Tagged with Win Win, he served as Senior Special Assistant Projects to former governor Kwankwaso and Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure under Ganduje until last year when the governor sacked him for making a derogatory comment over the death of Mallam Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

He has worked in the oil sector before he ventured into politics. His commitment amd workaholic zeal as Commissioner for works in Kano proved that he means business.

Some people say, Muazu has all it takes but he’s lacking in the moral and character to lead a state like Kano.

Shaaban Ibrahim Sharada

A former radio broadcaster with Freedom Radio in Kano until in 2015 when he was appointed Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Broadcast Media, a position which he served between 2015 to 2019 when he resign to contest for the membership of House of Representatives.

Sharada is very dogged and committed to the cause he is pursuing for. He is a graduate of Mass Communication in BUK and holds an MBA from the UK.

His series of empowerment and face off with Ganduje on policies affecting the masses has earned him respect in the eyes of the people.

Despite being a member of the House of Representatives under APC, Sharada didn’t hesitate to speak the truth to power.

He currently chairs the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

Ismaeel Buba Ahmed

He’s the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Investment Program and member of the APC Extraordinary Convention Caretaker Committee led by Mai Mala Buni.

Ismaeel is a party man, so eloquent and blunt, he has all it takes to lead the commercial hub.

He read law at the University of Abuja and an LLM from USA.

He contested for the membership of House of Representatives under the defunct CPC and won until when a High Court in Kano declared Nassir Ali Ahmed as the winner not him.

Like Sharada, Ahmed is at loggerhead with Governor Ganduje unlike other aspirants.

Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado

He’s the Chairman of Kano Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission, his track record for modernising a state anti corruption agency to standard has earned him a lot of respect.

He’s a favorite of the governor but looking at the political heavyweight of some of the aspirants and resources, that will not favour Magaji in the race.

A law graduate from Bayero University in Kano, Magaji is the best Anti-Corruption czar in the country.

If track record is a yardstick for giving governorship ticket, then Magaji should be considered.

He was a former Vice Chairman of Rimingado Local Government before he later founded Grassroots Anti-Corruption Awareness Network Initiative, a civil society organisation that sue the government of Ibrahim Shekarau over appointment of Caretaker Committee in local governments of Kano.

A case that he won and led to Interm Management Officers in Local Governments of Kano.

Kabiru Alhassan Rurum

A former Councillor in Lagos, he was the Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly that recommended the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi as Emir of Kano.

Rurum is a grassroots mobilizer, he is enjoying the support of APC stakeholders in Kano South who are of the opinion that power should be rotated to their zone this time.

Analysts are seeing Rurum as a mere politician with no Blueprint or capacity to lead a state like Kano.

With the touches he is making within the party, he may suprise all.

Politics

Why Nura Manu Soro should be APC candidate in Bauchi State come 2027

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Honourable Nura Manu Soro

 

 

Sani Adnan

As Planning Is Essential for a Political Campaign, Nura, if given the opportunity, will ensures that the party’s campaign activities are structured, resources are used efficiently, and every effort supports the central objective of winning voter trust and turnout.

Steps He May Take in Building a Political Campaign Plan

Professionals and other relevant stakeholders will be widely consulted where strategic views will be carefully collated and embedded in his vision, mission, and values, analyzing voter demographics needs and setting measurable campaign goals, among others.

*An Inclusive Campaign Foundation*
Nura Manu’s campaign foundation cover party core values, valuable insights, and specific objectives such as turnout targets, fundraising benchmarks, and win margins against major opposition elements.

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*Who May Serve As Key Members of His Campaign Team*
In order to guarantee and seamless victory, Nura Manu Soro has assembled array of professional politicians, technocrats with essential roles include the campaign manager, communications lead, digital strategist, field organizer, and finance director, supported by a structured volunteer network of versatile young men and women from all walks of life.

Nura Manu Soro Represent a Strong Campaign Message That’s Important At The Moment

Nura Manu Soro is sine qua non with a strong message which will naturally connects the APC candidate to voter concerns, builds credibility, and provides consistency across campaign speeches, political advertisements, and digital platforms.

Nura Manu Soro Represent The Role a Slogan (Tafiyar Matasa Sabon Jini) Play in Campaign

A slogan captures the campaign’s vision in a short, memorable phrase, supported by talking points that reinforce the message across all outreach. Persons like him with towering intellect, global exposure and academic distinction, who understand how power truly operates, will play politics which might reveals realities that libraries, laboratories and lecture halls couldn’t fully expose. ‘NMS’ as I fondly called him, is a master strategist who excelled in engineering negotiations, manoeuvres, interests, alliances and contradictions that quietly shape greater outcomes at different fora.

In conclusion, NMS will utilise social media to expands reach, engages different voter segments, and provides real-time interaction. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X, among many others to target different demographics effectively.

Sani Adnan, wrote from Alkaleri in Bauchi State, Nigeria.

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Beyond the Verdict: How NNPP Loss Vindicates Governor Yusuf’s Political Foresight

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By: Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa

A defining political moment unfolded in Lagos as loyalists of NNPP founder, Boniface Aniebonam, converged at his Apapa office in celebration of a decisive court victory that has reshaped the party’s leadership structure. The ruling of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, which directed INEC to recognise the Agbo Major led National Working Committee, effectively nullified the claims of the faction aligned with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, setting the stage for what many now regard as a turning point in the NNPP’s internal power dynamics.

The celebration was not merely symbolic but deeply political. Songs, dancing and thanksgiving echoed through the venue, signaling what many within the camp see as the final collapse of the rival structure. In their view, the ruling has drawn a clear line under the prolonged leadership tussle, affirming ownership and restoring the party to its original custodians.

While the Kwankwasiyya faction has dismissed the judgment and signaled its intention to appeal, the optics of the Lagos celebration suggest a deeper reality. It portrays a movement that is steadily losing institutional footing. What was once projected as a dominant bloc within the NNPP now appears increasingly isolated and weakened by legal setbacks and internal contradictions.

Within this unfolding scenario, the earlier decision of Abba Kabir Yusuf to exit the NNPP now stands out as not just strategic but profoundly prophetic. At a time when many still believed the crisis could be contained, the governor had already read the signs of a looming structural breakdown. His defection to the All Progressives Congress was a calculated move to shield Kano from the instability that has now fully consumed the party.

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Since the entrance of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso into the NNPP in late 2022, the party has been embroiled in persistent internal wranglings. What should have been a smooth political expansion quickly degenerated into disputes, counter claims and a cycle of litigations across multiple courts. These legal battles not only fractured the party’s leadership but created an environment too volatile for any serious governance to thrive.

For a sitting government, such instability is more than a political inconvenience. It is a direct threat to focus, peace of mind and administrative efficiency. Governor Yusuf clearly understood that a state like Kano could not afford to be governed from within a party constantly entangled in courtrooms. Governance requires clarity, stability and direction, conditions that had become increasingly absent within the NNPP.

The events of today have validated that judgment. The celebrations by Aniebonam’s loyalists underscore the extent to which the party structure has shifted away from the Kwankwaso bloc. In stark terms, the former political stronghold has been reduced to a shadow of its past influence within the party.

Indeed, a harsh but unavoidable metaphor now defines the situation. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso appears politically like a wandering herdsman without shepherds, disconnected from a recognised structure and navigating an uncertain terrain without institutional backing. The court’s affirmation of a rival leadership has effectively placed him in a position where his relevance within the NNPP is severely diminished.

In practical terms, this leaves him perilously close to being politically homeless, a figure without a firmly recognised platform and with a future clouded by legal and structural dislocations. His refusal to align with Governor Yusuf in the strategic move to the APC now appears in hindsight as a significant political miscalculation, one that may carry lasting consequences for his political journey.

The contrast could not be clearer. While Kano under Abba Kabir Yusuf has secured stability within a broader national framework, the NNPP remains trapped in cycles of litigation and internal strife. The governor’s decision ensured that his administration would not be distracted by endless legal battles, thereby preserving the focus required to deliver democratic dividends to the teeming people of Kano.

In the final analysis, politics rewards those who can read the future before it arrives and act before circumstances impose their will. Power is never sustained by sentiment but by structure, clarity and timing. What is unfolding within the NNPP is a reminder that when a political house becomes divided against itself, its strongest voices can quickly fade into irrelevance. In contrast, leadership that prioritises stability over attachment secures not just survival but continuity. In this moment, the lesson is clear that history does not remember hesitation, it remembers decision.

Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, is the Spokesperson to Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State

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DSP Barau and APC Unity in Kano

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By Abba Anwar

Democracy, in my candid opinion, is not only a game of numbers, as numbers could be falsified, twisted, deliberately avoided and deceiving, it is also a process of fair arrangement, fence-mending, thinking-ahead, conceding overturned events and strategy jogging, all within a sane and stable environment.

To push my take, closer to readers’ comprehension, let me, first and foremost, acknowledge the genuine involvement of His Excellency, the Deputy Senate President, Barau I Jibrin, CFR, immediately when the Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, joined All Progressives Congress (APC).

His contributions and commitment to the new union, new normal, as some may put it, explain his intent for building stronger, more peaceful, ambitious and strategic political platform devoid of crisis and cluelessness ahead of 2027 election period. The deeper commitment is manifested in almost all his recent visibility in the affairs of the party.

It was he, to the chagrin of all, who announced, publicly, that he jettisoned his long held ambition, of becoming number one citizen in the state. That happened during the welcome celebration of the Governor, to APC fold. There and then, he endorsed and called for genuine support, of Governor Yusuf ahead of 2027. Senator’s endorsement, was, in my understanding, out of volition and deep sense of responsibility.

After his unexpected withdrawal from the race, the former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CON, made similar pronouncement on behalf of all those contesting for gubernatorial seat in the state. Assuring Governor Yusuf that, all those contesting for the exalted seat, had also withdrawn.

I think after commending Ganduje for that, we should profoundly appreciate and thumb-up for the aspirants. His Excellency Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and His Excellency Murtala Sule Garo. The duo also exhibited decorum and absolute loyalty in the scheme of things. No doubt about this. So also would-be-aspirants, remained low-key and enduring. As low-key as they were, no one could accurately spot individuals here.

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My personal conviction, tells me that, APC heavyweights, did that, just to properly and unarguably, present the party, APC, to the Governor, as a comfort zone. Where his ambition for second tenure could well be secured seamlessly.

As a matter of fact, APC tries hard to make the Governor feel comfortable for the development of the state. Which is at stake. Hence the debut of the slogan “Kano First.”

Looking at the wards and local governments congresses, that took place recently, one can, but, believe with me, when I appreciate that Governor Yusuf is reciprocating well. Just look at how the government handles process, procedures and outcomes. Even the sharing formula of party’s executives, between the Governor and old APC members. Yes, the Governor is moving at his own pace, but to me, the situation is neither disturbing nor alarming. Each leader has his own way of discharging responsibilities.

All cards are now on the table. As the ball is in the court of the Governor. His understanding of the political arithmetic, as he merges with APC, is paramount and part of the necessary prerequisite for victory, in the face of all. Supporters, non-supporters and so-called neutral entities.

While DSP, alongside other critical stakeholders cooperate with the Governor for injecting life to good governance, it is not out of place, to also mention that, the DSP is becoming the engine room for unity in the party.

All his actions that followed the golden pronouncement, signify honest and genuine support for the status-quo. Few days before the formal pronouncement, it was he, who empowered and reinforced local governments officials in 13 local governments under his constituency, Kano North, with means of transport. Mobility worth commendation.

He gave a similar gesture to party leaders at all levels, long before now. Particularly in his constituency. But that was not limited to Kano North alone. His magnanimous intervention to party leaders, even at that time, across the state, was everything to write home about.

It is indeed dignifying to note that, Distinguished Senator knows clearly that, as it is democratic to support any idea, process and democratic styles, but within the confines of dignity, respect, law and order, it is also democratic to oppose any action or inaction, but within the confines of the identified situations.

The many politicians I spoke with, from Governor Yusuf’s side, on how the Deputy Senate President plays his cards, they passed an impressive judgment on him. They all acknowledged and appreciated his genuine commitment to the cause and his open-minded approach to the progress of the party and the government in the state.

I understand one good thing about him, I mean, out of many good things, he believes, Governor’s survival and victory, is APC’s. Adieu DSP, Adieu!

Anwar writes from Kano
Tuesday, 24th February, 2026

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