The political scene in Kano State has once again lived up to its reputation for drama, uniqueness and unpredictability. Recent activities affecting major political actors in the state like former New Nigeria Political Party (NNPP) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the former governor of the state, Abdullahi Musa Ganduje, their associates, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna and the governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf have introduced new twists in the calculation for 2027.
In 2023, Gawuna was the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and was standing hand in hand with the then Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
On the other side, Kabir Yusuf rode on the back of Kwankwaso’s and the Kwankwasiyya movement to clinch the governorship seat under the NNPP banner.
Three years later, the tables have turned. Gawuna has now defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), embracing Kwankwaso as his new ally while Yusuf has abandoned his mentor Kwankwaso and crossed into Ganduje’s APC. The reversal has left Kano’s political watchers both stunned and intrigued.
Although this is not new in Nigerian politics, analysts believe that it will reduce the 2027 for Kano Government House to what happened in 2023 where the two major contenders for the governorship seat in Kano were Kabir Yusuf and Gawuna.
The only difference would be the reversal of godfathers where Kwankwaso would now be standing with Gawuna, the very person he had fought in 2023 while Ganduje would probably be standing behind Kabir Yusuf who he also opposed in the last elections.
It is not certain if Gawuna would be given the ticket of his new party, the ADC, but all indices have shown that Yusuf may be given the APC ticket as it is said to be one of the agreements he entered with the leaders of the party before defecting.
Kwankwaso has for years carried on as the single leading political figure in Kano with mass followership in Kano. His ability to bounce back to reckoning after eight years of losing the governorship seat in 2003 has made him to be respected in national politics.
He also showed strength when during the APC primaries ahead the 2015 elections, he was able to beat other strong aspirants like former vice president, Atiku Abubakar to come second after Muhammadu Buhari.
The NNPP victory in both the governorship and presidential elections in Kano in 2023 has increased his political rating.
But this time, if Gawuna gets the ADC ticket with the support of Kwankwaso, they would be standing against formidable opponents that include, former governor, Ganduje, Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, a siting governor, Yusuf with a strong support from Abuja.
Analyst say this would place lots of resources in the kitty of the APC stalwarts while some say with the increase in membership of the ADC the party would also be able to mobilise resources for its campaigns.
Yusuf’s relationship with Kwankwaso became strained over governance style and party control. By early 2026, Abba formally joined APC, citing the need to “work with those who can deliver development to the state.”
Meanwhile, Gawuna, who had been serving as Chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, resigned his position and announced his defection to ADC, citing his neglect and his supporters by the APC.
His move was not just a personal decision but a symbolic embrace of Kwankwaso, the very man he had opposed in 2023.
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