2027: Kano APC, Ganduje Clash With Kwankwaso Over Yusuf

The political temperature in Kano State rose yesterday as the All Progressives Congress (APC), the former national chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, traded sharp words over the political future of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The clash followed comments by Kwankwaso in a BBC interview, where he declared that Governor Yusuf had “sealed his fate” for the 2027 governorship election by defecting from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the APC and aligning with Ganduje.

Kwankwaso stated this in his first interview after the defection of Governor Yusuf, 22 NNPP lawmakers, some federal lawmakers and 44 council chairmen to the ruling APC last Monday in Kano.

During the defection ceremony, Ganduje had assured Yusuf of an automatic return ticket on the APC platform ahead of the 2027 election.

Ganduje, Kwankwaso’s former deputy governor-turned-political foe, had defeated Yusuf (backed by Kwankwaso) in a keenly contested 2019 election.

 Ganduje fires back

Reacting to Kwankwaso’s comments yesterday, Ganduje downplayed the former governor’s claims, insisting that power ultimately comes from God and not individuals.

“I am not God. Only God gives power. Let us pray that we are all alive to see 2027,” he said.

“If by then he loses, then he is right; if he wins, then he is wrong. What matters is that God determines leadership.”

Ganduje, who spoke through his director of protocol, Mohammed Garba, in a telephone interview with LEADERSHIP, said, “We are praying that we all see 2027. He is just making comments because he is not God and it’s only God that gives power, whether with Kwankwasiyya or anyone,” he said.

For his part, the Kano State APC publicity secretary, Hon. Ahmad Aruwa, described Kwankwaso’s comments as “baseless and senseless,” arguing that the former governor had lost political relevance and grassroots support in the state.

“It seems like he has lost his way, he has lost his victory, and even he has lost the support of the people of Kano. I think he has made it clear to himself that this is somebody who lived with him for almost 40 years. So, can you tell me about someone you lived with for almost 40 years who left you within a short period of time?

“So, actually, what I understand from his interview with the BBC is that he has lost control. He has lost support. He has lost almost everything he thought he was going to get.

“He knows why Governor Yusuf left the party. He knows why,” he said.

Aruwa said the APC was confident of victory in 2027, citing what he described as massive defections of political heavyweights, federal lawmakers, state assembly members and local government chairmen into the party.

He claimed that Kwankwaso’s camp had lost most of its electoral structures, particularly in the Kano South Senatorial District.

“By God’s grace, in 2027, we will win because we have all the manpower, all the politicians; all the bigwigs are here with us.

“We lost people in 2023, like Kawu Samaila, and about five powerful people. Now, those people that we lost are here with us, their supporters, and the governor is here with us. So, I have confidence in 2027. By the grace of God, APC will be on top.

“Almost all the House of Representatives members, state assembly members and the 44 local government chairmen are with us. Tell me, how will he win in 2027?” Aruwa asked.

The Kano APC chieftain further rejected Kwankwaso’s assertion that Governor Yusuf would regret leaving the NNPP, insisting that the governor had moved from darkness to light by joining the APC and was focused on developing the state and leveraging federal support for Kano.

Why Yusuf won’t win re-election in 2027 – Kwankwaso

Earlier, Kwankwaso had accused Governor Yusuf of betraying the mandate of NNPP supporters and handing it over to the Gandujiyya political camp, warning that the decision would haunt him politically.

He declared that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has effectively lost his chances of reelection by banking on the political influence of former governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Speaking in his first media interview since parting ways with Governor Yusuf, Kwankwaso told the BBC that the governor’s political fate was sealed the moment Ganduje publicly raised his hand following Yusuf’s defection to the APC.

“I saw it in the papers that it was Ganduje who raised his hand, and at that moment, it symbolised for us that he had lost the election,” Kwankwaso said.

“If Ganduje truly had that level of influence, he would have delivered in 2019 and 2023, because I know the people of Kano do not support Ganduje. That was evident in our victory in the last election when we were the weaker party with zero support.”

Kwankwaso expressed deep disappointment over Governor Yusuf’s decision to leave NNPP.

“He has taken the mandate of NNPP members and the people of Kano and handed it over to the Gandujiyya political camp without any strong justification,” he said.

Reflecting on the fallout, the former governor said he had repeatedly questioned what went wrong but could not fault the party or its members.

“When I lie down to sleep, I reflect and ask myself: what really happened? Who was at fault? Was it me? Was it the party? Were the party members at fault? I cannot find an answer,” he stated.

Commenting on NNPP members who defected but still claim allegiance to the Kwankwasiyya ideology, Kwankwaso dismissed such assertions, insisting that the movement’s ideology and structure are distinct.

“Our ideology and structure are different. If you say you want to continue being part of Kwankwasiyya, why did you leave its stronghold? You should have stayed and continued the ideology at its home base. It doesn’t matter if you continue wearing the red cap; we will continue to see you as Gandujiyya loyalists.”

Kwankwaso also rejected claims of an internal crisis within the NNPP, which Governor Yusuf cited as a reason for leaving the party, noting that disagreements are a normal part of politics.

“We have a good leadership structure. There is no political party without complaints; that is the nature of politics,” he said.

The former minister and senator warned that the governor would regret his decision.

“I agree 100 per cent that now that he is not with us, he is fully with Ganduje. Even if he does not return to us in the future, he will regret his decision.”

Kwankwaso further dismissed suggestions that the defection had diminished his political relevance, arguing that the development had instead strengthened the movement’s resolve.

“Some people think that because he is no longer with us, we have lost political relevance. However, for us, this disappointment is fuelling our conviction. We did not plan for this level of betrayal.

“Kano will always be with us, and even the country at large. We are working towards bringing positive change,” he said.