Kano State politics has been thrown into further turmoil following the defection of Yusuf Gawuna from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Hafiz Idris, a chieftain of the APC, has publicly accused Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin of being the driving force behind Gawuna’s move.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Idris alleged that Barau deliberately frustrated Gawuna’s efforts to secure a strategic political appointment after his loss in the 2023 gubernatorial election to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). According to Idris, this obstruction ultimately pushed Gawuna to abandon the APC for the ADC.
The controversy deepens with claims that Barau is now working to block the nomination of Murtala Garo—Gawuna’s former running mate—as the next Deputy Governor of Kano State. This follows the resignation of the incumbent, Aminu Abdulsalam, who stepped down after Yusuf’s defection from the NNPP to the ruling party.
Idris asserted that Barau is “deeply uncomfortable” with Garo’s potential emergence and is actively lobbying behind the scenes to prevent his nomination. He alleged that Barau favors an alternative candidate based on political considerations, including regional balance and influence.
The power struggle within Kano’s political landscape underscores the fragile alliances and intense rivalries shaping the state’s governance. With Gawuna’s defection and the impending selection of a new deputy governor, tensions within the APC are likely to escalate, potentially reshaping the state’s political dynamics ahead of future elections.
