Kano is quickly becoming one of Nigeria’s most important political battlegrounds before the 2027 general elections. A fight is breaking out between former governors and entrenched political structures, which observers are calling a “war of heavyweights.”
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and his Kwankwasiyya Movement, which is now part of the ADC, are at the center of the contest. They are up against a growing group within the APC that includes Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the current Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, and Ibrahim Shekarau, who just left the APC.
Former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau said in an interview with Arise TV that he doesn’t care what people say about his frequent political moves. He said that his decisions are based on principle, not personal ambition.
He said, “You see, I’m worried that people will think this is wrong, but it’s the same principle that drives us.”
He said that he never makes decisions on his own; instead, he talks to people in all party structures before making a choice.
“We make it public if you check the records.” We talk to a lot of people. He said, “We have a structure for consultation at both the state and local levels.”
Shekarau said that his main concern is still democracy within political parties.
He said, “It’s not okay for people to be denied their right to take part in free and fair internal democracy, and for the leadership to be very selfish and not listen to such complaints.”
His return to the APC has changed the political landscape in Kano once more, and people are wondering if his presence will help the party’s chances.
Kwankwasiyya Movement Says No to Growing APC Alliance in Kano
Even though more and more groups are working together against Kwankwaso, members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement are still standing strong.
Mansur Umar Kurugu, the Kwankwasiyya Movement’s Spokesperson II, was the only one to speak and downplayed the strength of the new APC alignment.
He said, “I think the truth is that APC is not getting any stronger by putting people like Malam Ibrahim Shekarau and Abba Kabir Yusuf on the same stage.”
He said that similar alliances had failed before and that his boss, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is still as strong as ever and deeply involved in Kano politics.
“This isn’t the first time.” “We saw it in 2019, we saw it in 2023, and Kwankwaso never let the people down by breaking up this kind of coalition,” Kurugu said.
He said with confidence before 2027, “Kwankwaso is super ready, Kwankwasiyya is super ready, and we are going to beat this group of selfish politicians.”
Supporters of the APC back Yusuf and question Kwankwaso’s relevance.
On the other hand, APC supporters say that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is still a strong candidate who could help the party win.
Kabir Dakata, who is the chairperson of KASA and a strong supporter of Yusuf, said he was hopeful about the APC’s chances.
He said, “We are the original Kwankwasiyya members, and we are sure to win the 2027 polls.”
He also liked that Kwankwaso moved to the ADC, saying that it backs up claims that there were problems within his old camp.
Dakata also said that Kwankwaso’s power might be overestimated.
Ganduje’s political machinery, Shekarau’s grassroots network, and Yusuf’s incumbency are all on one side, while Kwankwaso’s “cult political followership” is on the other. The 2027 race in Kano is becoming more and more defined by these two groups’ legacies and political structures.
