By Ademu Idakwo, Abuja; Aza Msue, Kaduna; Muh’d Zangina Kura, Dutse; Longtong Yakubu, Kano
The battle for the Kano State 5.9 million registered voters heated up yesterday when some political leaders in the state joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Among those received into the APC are former senators Rufa’i Sani Hanga, Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, and Mas’ud El-Jibrin Doguwa.
Others include the chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP, Fruit Faction), Ali Datti Yako; the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) deputy state chairman, Badaru Umar; the former chairman of the Ungogo Local Government Area, Isyaku Ali Danja; and the former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Yusuf Bello Danbatta.
Also received were former PDP deputy governorship candidate, Senator Baraka Sani; former Special Adviser to the President, Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya; Chairman of the NNPP (Book Faction), and former NNPP senatorial candidate, Abdulmajid Dauda Dandawaki.
The defectors were accompanied by their supporters, who joined thousands of APC loyalists at the venue as they were all received into the ruling party.
Yesterday’s defections may have further deepened the ongoing political realignment in the state ahead of the 2027 elections, as several prominent politicians and groups have moved into the APC in recent months.
The political realignment and defections are expected to strengthen the APC’s structure further as the three main political parties battle for control of the state’s votes in 2027.
The parties are the APC, African Democratic Congress and the National Democratic Congress.
While President Bola Tinubu is the APC’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President, is the ADC’s flagbearer, and Peter Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, leads the NDC.
Speaking at the event, Governor Yusuf welcomed the defectors, describing their decision as an indication of growing acceptance of the APC in Kano.
He urged the new members to work with existing APC stakeholders to strengthen the party and mobilise support for Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.
Yusuf said Kano would play a leading role in the President’s re-election bid, calling on youths, women, support groups and other stakeholders to remain united and committed to the party.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group, Dr Umar Tanko-Yakasai, said the group had commenced its grassroots mobilisation to secure Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Yakasai, who praised Tinubu’s economic policies and projects in Kano, also commended Governor Yusuf for what he described as his developmental strides across the state.
He assured the gathering that members of the support group across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory would work to deliver victory for Tinubu at the polls.
He also urged the newly inaugurated national and state executives of the support group to begin immediate grassroots mobilisation.
Senator Hanga, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, pledged to work with Governor Yusuf and other APC leaders to secure victory for the party in 2027.
However, a former governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who also has a large following, is Obi’s running mate.
