Defections: Kano’s lone NDC senator and former governor join APC

Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress has drawn a senior senator, a former governor and several other opposition figures into its ranks in Kano, deepening political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.

Rufa’i Hanga, the senator representing Kano Central, was the only senator from Kano in the Nigeria Democratic Congress. He resigned from the NDC before joining the APC. His resignation was announced in a letter to the chairman of the party’s Dakata Ward dated Aug. 3, and his defection followed on Saturday.

The APC also received former Kano Governor Kabiru Gaya, factional New Nigeria Peoples Party chairman Mas’ud Doguwa, former Kano State House of Assembly Speaker Isyaku Danja and former PDP deputy governorship candidate Yusuf Danbatta. Baraka Sani, NDC chieftain Ali Yako and several members of the NDC state executive committee were also among those formally welcomed.

The ceremony took place during the inauguration of the Tinubu Support Group 2.0 national structure and state executive committees at Sani Abacha Stadium in Kofar Mata, Kano. Kano Governor Abba Yusuf, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, former governor Abdullahi Ganduje and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin attended.

The group of defectors also included figures from the political camp of Nasiru Gawuna, the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate. The movement is expected to strengthen the APC’s structure in Kano as preparations intensify for the presidential, governorship and National Assembly contests.