Kano Political Earthquake: Kwankwaso Loyalists Dump NDC, Defect to APC in Major 2027 Blow

Kano Political Earthquake: Kwankwaso Loyalists Dump NDC, Defect to APC in Major 2027 Blow

A massive wave of defections has struck the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State, as a serving senator, a former governor, and several key loyalists of vice-presidential candidate Rabiu Kwankwaso abandoned the party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a dramatic political realignment.

The mass defection, unveiled on Saturday at the formal inauguration of the Tinubu Support Groups (TSG) 2.0 State Chapters at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano, completely recalibrates the balance of power in Nigeria’s largest voting corridor ahead of the high-stakes 2027 general elections. The event attracted a mammoth crowd, with supporters reportedly climbing trees and rooftops around the stadium and nearby Kwari textile market to catch a glimpse of the proceedings. Reports indicate that Senator Hanga joined the APC alongside approximately 136,000 supporters. The stadium was reportedly filled to capacity several hours before the commencement of the ceremony, with supporters arriving as early as 6 a.m. The massive turnout disrupted commercial activities around the stadium and parts of the Kanti Kwari textile market, with some traders reportedly shutting their shops amid concerns over the unusually large gathering. Traffic was also heavily affected as jubilant supporters marched in groups and converged on the venue ahead of the event.

Among the prominent defectors were Senator Rufai Sani-Hanga, representing Kano Central and the only opposition lawmaker from the state in the Senate; former governor Kabiru Ibrahim-Gaya, who also previously served as chairman of a faction of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP); and Senator Mas’ud El-Jibrin Doguwa. Others included Ali Datti-Yako, former NDC deputy chairman; former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly Isyaku Ali-Danja; Senator Baraka Sani; former Ungogo Local Government Council chairman Badaru Umar; Senator Abdulmajid Dauda-Dandawaki; and Yusuf Danbatta, a former PDP deputy governorship candidate. Two former NNPP state chairmen, Mas’ud Eljibrin-Doguwa and Abdullahi Zubairu-Abiya, were also among the defectors.

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The defectors were formally ushered into the ruling platform by an impressive array of APC leadership, including APC National Chairman Prof. Nantawe Yilwatda, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf, immediate-past APC national chairman Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibril. Their presence at the ceremony signalled the strategic importance of these defections to the party’s 2027 ambitions. At the event, the party unveiled the Tinubu Support Group, the campaign structure for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election. Governor Kabir-Yusuf described the political realignment as a monumental consolidation for the APC in Kano, stating that the decision of Sani-Hanga and his formidable political network mirrored deepening public confidence in the administration’s governance agenda. He assured the senator and other defectors that APC would remain a broad platform where all members would have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state and Nigeria at large.

Speaking on behalf of the defecting bloc, Senator Sani-Hanga expressed their commitment to APC and pledged to work with the governor and other party leaders toward achieving victory in the 2027 general elections. They declared their irreversible loyalty to the party hierarchy and announced they had collapsed their grassroots structures to partner with the governor and national leadership to guarantee a landslide victory across all ballots in 2027.

In his remarks, former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar-Ganduje described the mammoth crowd that greeted the defections as proof that Kano State is for the APC. “We are not surprised because Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a progressive leader who has the foresight to look into the future for the sustainable development of our country,” he said. He said the APC’s renewed hope agenda was designed to guide the country’s developmental aspirations, with economic reforms among its key pillars. He noted that the reforms had increased government revenue, enabling all tiers of government to execute various projects. He urged Nigerians to continue to support the policies and programmes of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

This mass defection follows a pattern of high-profile departures from the Kwankwaso camp. Kabiru Adamu Kofar Ruwa, a founding member of Kwankwasiyya and close associate of Kwankwaso for nearly 29 years, recently left the movement and joined the APC. In a candid interview, he cited “injustice” as the primary reason for the mass exit: “The movement started with truth and trust. That was the foundation. But later, the leader of the journey, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, deviated completely from the path. Injustice crept in, and that destroyed the entire structure.” He declared that Kwankwasiyya has lost its way, predicting that the movement would come third at best in future elections. An APC chieftain, Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, declared that with the anticipated return of Senators Hanga and Gaya to the APC, the Kwankwasiyya Movement no longer has the political strength to determine the outcome of the 2027 general election in Kano State. He noted that Kano Central alone commands more than one-third of the total votes in Kano State, and with Senator Hanga joining the APC, victory for the ruling party in the zone is already assured.

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The political landscape in Kano has been in flux since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf defected from the NNPP to the APC earlier in the year. His decision, alongside 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and 44 local government chairmen, effectively dismantled the Kwankwasiyya political structure that had brought him to power. Kwankwaso had earlier expressed deep sadness over the governor’s decision, describing it as painful and disappointing.

Despite the defections, Kwankwaso has maintained that the APC’s control does not guarantee President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2027 election. He had previously, in a video address, endorsed the defection of some of his loyalists to the APC, saying the decision was informed by the experiences of his supporters who had been under huge pressure and tension since the defection saga erupted. He claimed that many local government chairmen and councillors had been placed under intense pressure to defect, with some suffering sleeplessness and even being hospitalised due to the trauma. “We agreed that all chairmen, councillors, supervisory councillors and anyone asked to sign the document should go ahead and sign. We have no problem with that. 2027 is not yet here,” he said. The NDC has also dismissed claims that Kwankwaso threatened to leave the party over disputes surrounding candidate selections in Kano State. The controversy followed the party’s decision to review and replace several candidates earlier submitted by the Kwankwasiyya faction in Kano State, which the party insists was taken in line with internal agreements.

Kano State has become the epicentre of a fierce political battle ahead of 2027, as Kwankwaso and his estranged political godson, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, battle for supremacy. The defection of Kwankwaso’s key allies to the APC represents a significant shift in the state’s political dynamics. With Hanga’s defection, the opposition in Kano is left without representation in the Senate, as Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Senator Kawu Sumaila are already in the APC. While defections have largely been one-sided, there have been reports of some APC members defecting to the NDC in recent weeks, indicating a fluid political landscape where loyalties are shifting as the 2027 elections approach. As the political battle lines harden, the battle for Kano—Nigeria’s most populous state and a key electoral prize—is set to intensify, with both camps mobilizing supporters and consolidating alliances. The mass defection is expected to strengthen the ruling party’s political structure in the state as it intensifies preparations for the presidential, governorship and National Assembly elections.