Former Kano State deputy governor and 2023 governorship candidate, Nasir Gawuna, is unlikely to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), despite widespread speculation triggered by his key political allies defecting back to the ruling party.
The defecting faction was led by Badaru Umar—a close political associate of Mr Gawuna and former chairman of Ungogo Local Government.
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On 1 September, Mr Umar led a delegation of Mr Gawuna’s prominent allies, including Mr Gawuna’s younger brother, Mansur, to a consultation meeting with Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf and Deputy Governor Murtala Garo.
The delegation included Ali Datti-Yako, state deputy chairman of the NDC; Uba Danzainab, Aminu Faruk, Sani Jibrin, Salisu Muhammad, Musa Indabo, Muhammad Bala, Hassan Abdullahi and Abdurrahman Muhammad.
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Following the visit, the politicians—alongside several of their supporters—officially rejoined the APC on 5 September.
Their defection further heightened speculations that Mr Gawuna was also joining his associates in the APC.
Speaking on Lumana Radio on Monday, Mr Umar explained that their return to the APC was motivated by a desire to align with the development initiatives of Governor Yusuf’s administration.
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“We returned to the APC because we believe it is the right platform to achieve our political goals,” Mr Umar stated.
“We initially led Mr Gawuna to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), later NDC, with the sole aim of securing a governorship ticket for him, but that was not realised.
“While we decided and returned to the APC, Mr Gawuna insisted on remaining with the NDC, where he was offered a senatorial ticket for the Kano Central District.”
Mr Umar added that despite their failure to secure the governorship ticket for Mr Gawuna, they were unable to convince him to rejoin the APC, making his return to the party highly unlikely ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gawuna’s political journey to NDC
Mr Gawuna’s refusal to return to the APC stems from a series of political realignments in Kano State. Following feelings of marginalisation within the APC despite polling over 800,000 votes in the 2023 governorship race, Mr Gawuna severed ties with the APC.
As part of his exit plan, he resigned as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
After departing the APC, Mr Gawuna rejoined former boss Rabiu Kwankwaso, under whose governorship he served as Commissioner for Agriculture.
As the APC candidate in the 2023 governorship election, Mr Gawuna polled 890,705 votes, but was defeated by Governor Yusuf, who polled 1,019,602 votes.
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Several of Mr Gawuna’s loyalists feel aggrieved, arguing that the NDC shortchanged him by offering only a senatorial ticket.
Mr Gawuna served as deputy governor to Abdullahi Ganduje, who supported him during the 2023 election, when Mr Yusuf had the backing of Mr Kwankwaso.
In September 2023, the Election Petition Tribunal annulled Governor Yusuf’s victory, invalidating 165,663 ballot papers over missing signatures and stamps.
The Court of Appeal upheld this ruling in November 2023. However, in January 2024, the Supreme Court overturned the lower courts’ decisions and affirmed Governor Yusuf as the duly elected Governor of Kano State.
After the governor defected to the APC to seek a second term, Mr Gawuna defected to the ADC and later to the NDC.
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