Some members of the political camp of former Kano State governorship candidate, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, are reportedly set to leave the New Democratic Congress (NDC) and return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The development followed a solidarity visit by members of Gawuna’s political team to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and his deputy, Murtala Garo, on Tuesday night.
The visit, according to the delegation, formed part of consultations ahead of their planned return to the APC.
The group was led by Muhammad Umar, a close associate of Gawuna, and included the NDC Vice Chairman in Kano State, Ali Datti Yako; Mansur Gawuna; and Uba Mijinyawa, popularly known as Uba Danzainab.
Others in the delegation were Aminu Faruk, Sani Jibrin, Salisu Muhammad, Musa Indabo, Muhammad Bala, Hassan Abdullahi and Abdurrahman Muhammad.
The visit was disclosed in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa.
Umar said the delegation decided to engage with the governor because of its interest in the development of Kano State.
“We are here because of our passion for the development and progress of Kano State. Our interest is in anything that will move Kano forward and improve the lives of its people,” he said.
He said the consultations were intended to enable the group to work with the state leadership and contribute to initiatives that would benefit Kano residents.
“Our consultations are aimed at engaging the leadership of the state and contributing our own quota to the development of Kano. We believe that by working together, we can support initiatives that will benefit the people of the state,” Umar added.
Yako, in his remarks, commended the Yusuf administration, saying its efforts to transform the state were visible to residents.
“Everyone knows that Governor Yusuf is working tirelessly to transform Kano State. His efforts towards transforming the state are visible, and the people of Kano are aware of what his administration is doing,” he said.
The NDC chieftain said the visit was also aimed at expressing solidarity with Yusuf and Garo and supporting programmes focused on improving the welfare of Kano residents.
“We are here to express our solidarity with the governor and his deputy and to support the progress being made in Kano. We believe in initiatives that will bring development and progress to our people,” Yako said.
Gawuna served as deputy governor during the administration of former governor Abdullahi Ganduje before becoming the APC’s candidate in the 2023 Kano governorship election.
He lost the election to Yusuf, then the candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), with the outcome subsequently becoming the subject of prolonged legal challenges.
Gawuna later joined the NDC and secured the party’s ticket to contest the Kano Central senatorial seat.
The reported plan by some members of his political structure to return to the APC comes as political parties intensify efforts to strengthen their structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
If the planned movement materialises, it could affect the NDC’s strength in Kano while giving the APC an opportunity to further rebuild its political base in the state.
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