In a significant political shift ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, former Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo has clinched the governorship ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The move, announced on Friday, underscores the fluid alliances shaping Kano’s political landscape, largely influenced by the influential Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Gwarzo’s journey to the NDC ticket began after he resigned as deputy governor in March 2026, initially joining the African Democratic Congress (ADC) alongside Kwankwaso. However, Kwankwaso later orchestrated a mass defection of his Kwankwasiyya movement members into the NDC, positioning Gwarzo as the preferred candidate due to his steadfast loyalty and alignment with Kwankwaso’s political ideals.
Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the movement’s leader, officially declared Gwarzo the NDC flagbearer during a gathering in Kano. According to Gwarzo’s spokesman, Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu, the former deputy governor will be formally affirmed alongside other party candidates at a scheduled ceremony. “The event will also feature the affirmation of the party’s candidates for the State House of Assembly, National Assembly, governorship, and presidential elections,” Shuaibu noted.
Gwarzo’s emergence wasn’t without internal negotiations. He faced competition from Yusuf Gawuna, the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, who had recently joined the Kwankwasiyya movement when Governor Abba Yusuf switched to the APC. Hon. Habibu Sale Mohammed, spokesman for the Kwankwasiyya Movement, revealed that after extensive consultations, Kwankwaso sat down with both men. “He analyzed his findings and decided that Gwarzo should contest the governorship,” Mohammed explained. Gawuna was offered two options—deputy governor or a Senate seat. He chose to run for Kano Central Senatorial seat, prompting Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, the current representative, to step aside. “That is the beauty of our Movement,” Mohammed added.
With decades of public service under his belt, Gwarzo now braces for a high-stakes showdown against his former boss, Governor Abba Yusuf, who is expected to seek re-election. Political analysts see this as a test of Kwankwaso’s grip on Kano’s electorate and a potential turning point in the state’s volatile political scene. As the NDC campaign gears up, the stage is set for a fierce battle for the Government House in 2027.
