KANO — The leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has announced the former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, as the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the upcoming elections.
In a major political development ahead of the party’s affirmation exercise today, the former APC governorship candidate, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, was also named as the NDC candidate for the Kano Central Senatorial seat.
The announcement marks a critical consolidation of the state’s opposition forces following months of political restructuring.
A Consensus Ticket
Making the disclosure via his official channels on Friday morning, Kwankwaso stated that the choices were rooted in party cohesion.
“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 said. He further prayed for a seamless and successful affirmation process ahead of the general elections.
Insiders reveal that the arrangement followed intense internal consultations aimed at avoiding a divisive primary. Dr. Gawuna, who previously held ambitions for the governorship, accepted the senatorial slot to strengthen the party’s appeal in the critical Kano Central zone.
Shift in the Political Landscape
The Gwarzo-Gawuna ticket represents a formidable alliance between key political blocs in Kano State.
The structural shift follows the defection of the incumbent governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) earlier this year. The split led to Gwarzo’s resignation as Deputy Governor in March 2026 and the subsequent migration of the Kwankwasiyya structure into the newly fortified NDC umbrella.
With the affirmation exercise underway today, the NDC has officially positioned its frontline contenders to challenge the ruling party for control of Nigeria’s most populous northern state.
