The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has intensified high-level engagements with prominent opposition leaders in Kano, capitalizing on growing internal rifts within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to expand the ruling party’s footprint ahead of the 2027 general elections. At the center of the APC’s latest charm offensive are Senator Rufa’i Sani Hanga (Kano Central)—the NDC’s sole sitting senator in the state—and former Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (Kano South). Yilwatda’s recent visits to both figures mirror his earlier successful outreach to former Kano Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, a move that ultimately paved the way for Shekarau’s defection to the APC. Analysts view this tactic—framing high-stakes political courting as friendly “courtesy visits for peace and state unity”—as a deliberate strategy to absorb disaffected opposition heavyweights into the APC fold. Signaling the intensity of the push, Yilwatda has met with Senator Hanga twice in recent days—once accompanied by Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin. He also paid a private visit to Gaya’s residence in Abuja. These meetings come on the heels of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s recent realignment with the ruling party, further pressuring the opposition structure in the state. The APC’s overtures come at a time when Senator Hanga has publicly expressed bitterness over his treatment within the Kwankwasiyya movement and the NDC. Despite his long-standing loyalty to party leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Hanga was denied both his senatorial return ticket and the deputy governorship slot—the latter being awarded to Kwankwaso’s son, Mustapha Rabi’u Kwankwaso. “I stood by Kwankwaso, but I ended up with nothing,” Hanga reportedly told associates recently, voicing his frustration over being politically sidelined. Hanga further stoked speculation of an impending exit when he remarked that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) holds “more chances of winning the 2027 presidential election than the NDC,” adding that the NDC’s presence is largely confined to Kano and even there, “is gradually being weakened daily.” His subsequent courtesy call on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf added another layer to the political intrigue. Kwankwaso hits back, movement downplays threat Dismissing Hanga’s allegations of ill-treatment during a recent broadcast interview on DITV, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso argued that Hanga’s grievances were purely self-serving and born out of frustration over missed nominations. Kwankwaso maintained that loyalty should not be conditional on personal gain and accused Hanga of playing the victim to justify a pre-planned defection to the APC. Similarly, the Kwankwasiyya movement insists the APC’s poaching efforts pose no existential threat to its grassroots base. Speaking to Daily Trust, Mansur Kurugu, Spokesperson II for the movement, emphasized that informal dialogues are routine in politics and do not translate to actual defections until formally declared. “Kwankwasiyya is a resilient movement. Even when key figures leave, they don’t take the movement with them,” Kurugu said. “A state governor left, yet Kwankwasiyya remains strong. Until these leaders formally announce a move, we see no reason to react.” Open doors at APC Meanwhile, local APC figures are actively rolling out the red carpet. Salisu Maje Gwangwazo, the party’s Kano Vice Chairman, confirmed meeting with Hanga to advocate for his return. While an anonymous state APC chieftain conceded that it might be too late to offer Hanga or Gaya automatic tickets for the 2027 senatorial races, he assured that both leaders would be accorded complete fairness and respect. “Their return will help us fully consolidate our strength across Kano State,” the chieftain noted. Analysts Political analyst and university lecturer Dr. Kabiru Sa’idu Sufi noted that Yilwatda is essentially reactivating the opposition-consolidation model previously championed by former national chairman Abdullahi Ganduje. “Visiting a figure like Senator Hanga twice strongly suggests the APC chairman sees a green light,” Sufi observed. “While Kwankwasiyya remains a formidable structure, losing their only sitting senator will undoubtedly deliver a psychological and political blow, as a segment of his supporters will follow him. Though neither Hanga nor Gaya has made an official declaration, their series of high-level consultations with APC top brass—paired with sharp public critiques of their current party—indicate that both political veterans are carefully weighing their next moves. Their ultimate decision promises to trigger major realignments across Kano’s electoral landscape.
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