KANO, Nigeria — The leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has unveiled the former Deputy Governor of Kano, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, as the state’s gubernatorial candidate for the 2027 elections under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
In a parallel move, Kwankwaso also announced that his former fierce political rival and 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, will fly the NDC ticket for the Kano Central Senatorial District seat.
Okay News reports that Kwankwaso made the official declaration on Friday morning via his verified social media handles, just as the party commenced its scheduled state-wide delegate affirmation exercises.
“This decision was made in the spirit of equity, fairness, loyalty, and competence — values that remain central to our party and Kwankwasiyya’s progress and unity,” Kwankwaso stated. “As we proceed with today’s affirmation exercise, I pray for a seamless, peaceful, and successful process. May Almighty Allah grant us resounding victory in the forthcoming elections.”
The selection of Gwarzo comes just two months after his high-profile resignation as Deputy Governor to current Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, following a bitter internal fallout that saw the governor defect to the APC. Meanwhile, Gawuna’s strategic inclusion on the ticket marks a stunning reconciliation; the veteran politician recently resigned his federal appointment at the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to dump the APC, completing a cross-party alliance that consolidates major grassroots factions under the NDC banner ahead of the 2027 polls.
