Rufa’i Hanga, Kano’s only opposition senator, joins APC from NDC
Rufa’i Hanga, senator representing Kano central, and the
only opposition lawmaker from the state in the senate, has defected to the All
Progressives Congress (APC). Hanga joined the ruling party on Saturday from the Nigeria
Democratic Congress (NDC), alongside other leaders and about 136,000
supporters. He was received by Nentawe Yilwatda, APC national chairman;
Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano; and Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of the
state, alongside thousands of supporters at the party’s mega rally held at the
Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano. At the event, the party unveiled the Tinubu Support Group,
the campaign structure for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election. In a video of the event seen by TheCable, Yilwatda, Yusuf
and Ganduje could be seen wearing APC-branded caps bearing the Tinubu insignia,
alongside about 20 leaders from opposition parties, as they welcomed the
defectors into the APC. In a post on X, Hassan Tukur, senior special assistant on
new media to the governor of Kano, listed Hanga; Kabiru Gaya, a former senator
and chairman of a faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); and Ali
Datti Yako, Kano NDC vice-chairman, among the defectors. Others, according to him, include Badaru Umar, former
chairman of Ungogo LGA; Isyaku Danja, former speaker of the Kano state house of
assembly; and Yusuf Danbatta, former PDP deputy governorship candidate,
alongside their supporters. Speaking at the event, Ganduje said the gathering was an
indication and confirmation that Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda was working. “We are not surprised because Mr President, Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, is a progressive leader who has the foresight to look into the future
for the sustainable development of our country,” he said. Ganduje said the APC’s renewed hope agenda was designed to
guide the country’s developmental aspirations, with economic reforms among its
key pillars. He said the reforms had increased government revenue, which
had enabled the federal, state and local governments to execute various
projects. Ganduje said the programme was also designed to address
economic challenges, including poverty, insecurity, weak institutions and low
economic growth. The defection follows Tuesday’s visit by a group of
supporters of Nasiru Gawuna, NDC Kano central senatorial candidate, to the Abba
Yusuf at the government house. According to Sunusi Bature, director-general of media and
publicity at the Kano state government house, the visiting team, led by
Muhammad Umar, Gawuna’s ally, included Yako; Mansur Gawuna; Uba Mijinyawa (Uba
Danzainab); Aminu Faruk; Sani Jibrin; Salisu Muhammad; Musa Indabo; Muhammad
Bala; Hassan Abdullahi; and Abdurrahman Muhammad. On May 5, Hanga defected from the NNPP to the NDC, citing
unresolved internal disputes, factional disagreements and leadership conflicts
within the party. His defection letter was formally announced that day during
plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio. With Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, and Kawu
Sumaila, senator representing Kano south, already in the APC, Hanga’s defection
leaves the opposition in Kano without representation in the red chamber.
The development, which comes amid the ongoing realignment of
political forces across the country, is expected to boost Tinubu’s bid to
secure a strong showing in Kano in the 2027 election.
3 hours ago
