Last-minute power game deepens as Kwankwaso plans to unveil Comrade Abdussalam as Kano NDC governorship candidate

Barring any last-minute change, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Kwankwaso, is set to unveil the immediate-past deputy governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam, as the consensus governorship candidate of the NDC in Kano State.

Mr Abdussalam resigned as deputy governor in March, weeks after the Kano State House of Assembly served him with an impeachment notice.

Sources familiar with the development told DAILY NIGERIAN that the decision followed a series of closed-door consultations within the Kwankwasiyya movement and among key political allies.

A former APC governorship candidate in the 2023 election, Nasiru Gawuna, was initially considered a strong contender for the ticket. However, Mr Kwankwaso eventually settled for Mr Abdussalam on Wednesday.

According to sources, Mr Kwankwaso therefore proposed either the deputy governorship slot or the Kano Central Senatorial ticket to Mr Gawuna. But the former APC guber candidate reportedly declined both offers, and pledged to work for the success of the party.

Sources said Mr Gawuna told Mr Kwankwaso that he joined the Kwankwasiyya movement unconditionally, and would therefore not leave because he did not get the governorship ticket.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that Mr Gawuna’s rejection of the offer had delayed the formal announcement of Mr Abdussalam on Wednesday, amid mounting pressure from some influential figures urging Mr Kwankwaso to look at Mr Gawuna’s electoral qualities and reconsider his decision.

Insiders promoting Mr Gawuna’s candidacy argued that the ideal candidate to defeat Governor Abba Yusuf should come from Kano Central. “First, Gawuna is very popular in Kano Central, where majority of the votes come from. Secondly, since Abba is from Kano Central, and is serving his first term office, the best solution is to field a candidate from the zone, so that the zone may not feel shortchanged. This is the same principle the NDC applied at the national level by zoning presidency to the South since a southern president is serving his first term in office,” said an insider who preferred anonymity.

But those supporting Mr Abdussalam argued that the former deputy governor had shown uncommon commitment, loyalty and made sacrifices for the development of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.