Kano guber race: Mustapha Kwankwaso’s nomination exposes third-term agenda, APC alleges

The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the nomination of Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as running mate to the governorship candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has exposed what it described as Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s “third-term agenda.” The APC made the allegation while reacting […]

The Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that the nomination of Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as running mate to the governorship candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has exposed what it described as Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s “third-term agenda.”
The APC made the allegation while reacting to the unveiling of Mustapha, the eldest son of former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as deputy governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Daily Trust reported that the NDC had on Monday presented Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as running mate to Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
Mustapha previously served as Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf before resigning alongside three other commissioners following political realignments that culminated in the governor’s defection to the APC.
Gwarzo, a former deputy governor, had also left office amid impeachment pressures from the Kano State House of Assembly.
Reacting to the development, the APC Chairman in Kano State, Umar Haruna Doguwa, said the ruling party was not surprised by the nomination, which he described as another attempt by Kwankwaso to maintain political control in the state.

According to Doguwa, the nomination provides further evidence of what he termed Kwankwaso’s long-standing ambition to retain influence over Kano politics.

“APC is not surprised with the nomination of Kwankwaso’s son, Mustapha, as running mate to Aminu Abdussalam in the NDC. In fact, APC expects more than this from Kwankwaso,” Doguwa said.

He alleged that Kwankwaso had previously explored legal options to secure a third term as governor in 2015 by arguing that the constitutional limit applied only to consecutive terms and not separate tenures.

“For your information, Kwankwaso actually worked to continue in office for a third term in 2015 and it was only God that stopped him. He wanted to use legal arguments to justify another tenure, but that effort did not succeed,” he claimed.

Doguwa further alleged that the nomination of Mustapha was part of a broader plan by the former governor to control the affairs of the state through a proxy arrangement.

“Imposing his biological son to run as deputy governor is another opportunity to advance that plan. Given more opportunities, Kwankwaso will do more than that,” he alleged.

The APC chairman maintained that the ruling party was not threatened by the development, expressing confidence in its political strength ahead of the 2027 elections.

“We can’t be jittery because we are solid and fully on ground. Election is nearby and we are all waiting. We were among the commanders of the Kwankwasiyya Movement before now and we will see what happens this time around,” he said.

The latest exchange comes amid growing political tensions in Kano following Governor Yusuf’s defection to the APC, a move that has sparked sharp reactions from members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

Kwankwaso had earlier described the governor’s defection as a betrayal, while leaders of the movement vowed to reclaim power from the ruling APC in the 2027 elections.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of Kwankwaso, Mustapha, or the NDC leadership to the APC allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.