The All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate for Kano in 2023, Nasiru Gawuna, defected to the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday, following his resignation from the APC.
Mr Gawuna finalised his defection to the ADC in an event in his Gawuna Ward, of the Nassarawa Local Government Area attended by hundreds of supporters.
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He was received by the former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Mr Gawuna completed his registration and received the party’s membership card in his Gawuna ward.
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His entry into the ADC comes a day after he left the APC, citing “voluntary and personal” reasons for his exit.
He had earlier resigned as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
Old allies become new rivals
In a dramatic turn of events in Kano politics, Mr Gawun, the former deputy governor and a staunch ally of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, has now shifted his loyalty to Mr Kwankwaso.
This means both the Ganduje and Kwankwaso camps have now exchanged key leaders, following Governor Abba Yusuf’s defection to the APC in January.
Mr Gawuna’s defection is particularly striking given his history. He was the APC standard-bearer in the 2023 governorship election.
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After a second-place finish, he challenged Governor Yusuf’s election all the way to the Supreme Court but failed.
For the past 10 years, Kano politics has been about the fierce rivalry between the Ganduje and Kwankwaso factions. The relationship between their respective supporters has historically been marked by tension, making these recent crossovers all the more explosive.
This latest twist sets the stage for a compelling battle in the 2027 general elections. As former friends turned foes and bitter rivals find themselves sharing the same platforms again, the divide has been redefined.
