KANU / ABUJA — Speculation continues to build across Northern political circles over the political futures of Senator Rufai Sani Hanga (Kano Central) and former Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya (Kano South), as the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) faces deepening internal strife linked to the Kwankwasiyya movement.

At the center of the growing crisis is an intense fallout between Senator Hanga and long-time ally Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso over ticket allocations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Rift: Ticket Denial and Nepotism Allegations

Hanga, a veteran politician who backed Kwankwaso through previous political realignments, has expressed open bitter dissatisfaction after being sidelined for both a return ticket to the Senate and the state’s deputy governorship slot.

Adding fuel to the fire, the disputed deputy governorship position was handed to Kwankwaso’s son, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, who was unveiled as running mate to the NDC’s governorship candidate.

The nomination of Kwankwaso’s son has alienated key movement loyalists, who view the move as an attempt to consolidate power within the leader’s family at the expense of longtime party stalwarts.

Realignment Dynamics: Drifting Toward the APC

With internal reconciliation efforts stalling, reports indicate that both Senator Hanga and Senator Kabiru Gaya are holding high-level consultations regarding a potential return or strategic shift toward the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC):

• Hanga’s Grievance: Feeling betrayed by the Kwankwasiyya high command after years of party loyalty, Hanga is reportedly weighing a formal exit from the NDC structure alongside thousands of supporters across Kano Central.
• Gaya’s Re-calculation: Former Governor Kabiru Gaya, a influential figure in Kano South, is also seeking a stable platform to re-anchor his political machinery as Kwankwaso’s grip on Kano’s opposition bloc faces unprecedented internal division.

Summary of the Kano NDC Crisis

  KEY FIGURES:        Sen. Rufai Sani Hanga & Sen. Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya
  MOVEMENT LEADER:    Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kwankwasiyya / NDC)
  TRIGGER POINT:      Denial of Senatorial/Deputy Gov tickets; nomination of Mustapha Kwankwaso
  DESTINATION:        Likely realignment with All Progressives Congress (APC)

Impact on Kano’s Political Landscape

The friction represents a major blow to Kwankwaso’s political dominance in Kano State. Should Hanga and Gaya finalize their exit to the APC, it could fracture the Kwankwasiyya voter base and tip the regional balance of power back toward the ruling party ahead of 2027.