Kano Governor Abba Yusuf has settled the protracted contest over the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial ticket for Kano Central, clearing the way for former governor and senator Ibrahim Shekarau to become the party’s consensus candidate.
The breakthrough was announced on Sunday by Sunusi Dawakin‑Tofa, the governor’s spokesperson, after Yusuf convened a high‑level reconciliation meeting in Abuja. The gathering brought together all aspirants, party officials and other stakeholders, who agreed to unite behind Shekarau in the interest of party cohesion, state development and the broader political future of Kano.
According to Dawakin‑Tofa, the intervention led eight aspirants to withdraw voluntarily and endorse Shekarau as the APC flagbearer for the country’s most populous senatorial district. Kano Central comprises fifteen local government areas and is home to more than 10 million residents, making its representation pivotal at the national level.
The consensus was welcomed by party members and political observers as a notable milestone. Usman Bala, spokesperson for the withdrawing aspirants, affirmed that the decision reflected respect for Shekarau and confidence in the governor’s peace initiative. “All eight aspirants unanimously supported the governor’s call for unity,” Bala said, describing the outcome as a timely and wise intervention that aligned competing interests toward a common goal.
Shekarau, who served as Kano governor from 2003 to 2011 and later as a senator, praised Yusuf’s role in achieving “lasting peace” among the contenders. He thanked the aspirants for their willingness to rally behind him and other APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yusuf, in a statement released after the meeting, commended the aspirants for prioritising the collective interest of Kano’s citizens over personal ambition. He characterised their choice as a demonstration of maturity, sacrifice and commitment to democratic values. The governor reiterated his administration’s dedication to dialogue, inclusion and consensus‑building as essential tools for political stability and sustainable development.
The arrangement is expected to consolidate Kano’s influence within the APC and at the national level, as the party prepares for the upcoming election cycle. Observers note that a unified ticket could strengthen the party’s campaign coherence in a state that often serves as a bellwether in Nigerian politics.
With the senatorial contest settled, attention now turns to the broader 2027 electoral landscape, where Kano’s unified stance may shape the balance of power both within the APC and across Nigeria’s multipartite system.
