Kwankwaso indirectly working for Tinubu’s re-election — Kano gov aide

The Director-General of Media and Publicity at the Kano Government House, Sunusi Tofa, has made the explosive allegation that former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is indirectly working towards the re-election of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Tofa made the claim on Wednesday during an appearance on the Arise News morning programme, while reacting to ongoing political developments and alignments ahead of the next election cycle.

According to him, recent political activities and strategic engagements across the country suggest subtle cooperation between some opposition figures and the ruling All Progressives Congress, with certain political calculations being promoted by Kwankwaso ultimately set to favour Tinubu’s second-term ambition.

“Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is indirectly or strategically working towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid. There are political activities and strategic engagements already taking place ahead of 2027, and many of them will eventually favour President Tinubu,” he said.

The government spokesperson also disclosed that Governor Abba Yusuf had approached Tinubu over plans to defect to the APC with Kwankwaso’s consent, adding that the alleged move also had the backing of former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo.

Tofa further claimed that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi may face political limitations in Kano due to what he described as the conservative nature of the state’s political environment.

“Political acceptance in Kano is shaped by ideology, history and regional considerations,” he said.

He also dismissed claims that about five million supporters attended a recent gathering at Kwankwaso’s residence in Kano, describing the figure as grossly exaggerated.

“Even major public venues in Kano do not have such capacity. Kwankwaso’s residence cannot accommodate more than 2,000 people,” he added.

Efforts to obtain reactions from Kwankwaso were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The political relationship between Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the current Kano State Government has been one of the most closely watched and fiercely contested dynamics in Nigerian politics since the 2023 general elections.

Kwankwaso, a former governor, former minister of defence and two-time senator, remains one of the most influential political figures in the North-West, commanding a deeply loyal following known as the Kwankwasiyya movement, identifiable by their trademark red caps.

In 2023, Kwankwaso ran for president on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, performing strongly in Kano State while falling short nationally.

His political machinery was also widely credited with delivering the governorship to Yusuf, who ran on the NNPP platform and defeated the APC’s candidate.

However, since then, cracks have begun to emerge in the relationship between Kwankwaso and Yusuf, with reports of tensions over political direction, appointments and the management of the state.