Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally welcomed two senior Kano politicians, Senator Rufai Hanga and Senator Kabiru Gaya, into the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the State House in Abuja, in a move that significantly weakens the political influence of opposition leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 elections.
Senator Hanga, who represented Kano Central under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and Senator Gaya, a former Governor of Kano State now representing Kano South, were received by the President in a ceremony led by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin.
Both politicians were key figures within the NDC and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, a political faction loyal to Senator Kwankwaso.
However, sources indicate that their decision to defect was precipitated by losing out on securing NDC tickets for elective positions during the party’s consensus congress.
It is understood that Senator Kwankwaso favoured other loyalists, leaving the two senators and their supporters disaffected.
Their return to the APC is expected to be a significant boost for the ruling party. A reliable party source told The Guardian that President Tinubu commended their decision, describing it as a major step towards unity and political progress in Kano State.
The source also quoted the President as expressing confidence that the development would further strengthen the party’s position.
Senators Barau, Hanga, and Gaya have all reaffirmed their commitment to the administration’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’
The defection is a major blow to the Kwankwasiyya Movement, which has already seen its grip on Kano politics tested. This follows the recent high-profile departure of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and other lawmakers from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the APC .
Political analysts believe that the departure of Hanga and Gaya, who command large followings, will further deplete the opposition’s ranks in Kano State, solidifying the APC’s position ahead of the 2027 general elections .
