Early fault lines emerge in Kano APC

Barely two weeks after Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf officially defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), concerns are mounting over the fate of both new entrants and long-standing members of the party.

Political analysts had earlier predicted possible clashes among APC members with competing ambitions following the defection, although such projections were largely viewed as speculative at the time. However, events in some key local government areas last weekend appear to have sent early warning signals.

Reports from Kano Municipal and Dawakin Tofa Local Government Areas suggest emerging disagreements within the party, as stakeholders reportedly held parallel meetings on the same issue of fostering internal unity among members.

It was gathered that some local governments had resolved to organise unity meetings to address concerns arising from Governor Yusuf’s defection ahead of the forthcoming APC state, local government and ward congresses. Kano Municipal was among the councils expected to host such a meeting.

Instead of a single gathering, however, rival groups reportedly held meetings at different venues, a development many observers interpret as a sign of internal division.

Findings showed that a faction aligned with former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje held a separate meeting. According to reports, those in attendance included the APC chairman of Kano Municipal, Alhaji Sani Abubakar Mai Fata Sharada; Muntari Ishaq Yakasai, an aspirant for the state party chairmanship; Baffa Babba Dan’agundi; Engr. Sagir Koki; Hon. Salim Hashim Gwangwazo; Nura Hussain; Hon. Nabil Sarki Daneji; Hon. Ibrahim Kankarofi; Hon. Kabiru Labour; Alhaji Kabiru Rabi’u; Malam Garba Yusuf Abubakar; Hon. Aliko Shuaibu Mukhtar, as well as some commissioners and special advisers.

It was also gathered that another meeting with a similar objective was held at a different location by party members loyal to the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, under the leadership of Hon. Salisu Maje Ahmad Gwangwazo and Malam Muhammad Ibrahim Kankarofi.

Those present at the parallel meeting reportedly included Hon. Salisu Maje Ahmad Gwangwazo (Alhajin Baba), Malam Ibrahim Kankarofi, Hamza Darma, Alhaji Faruq Iya, Fa’izu Alfindiki, Hon. Dan Bello Aminu, Uba Zubairu Yakasai, Engr. Garba Ahmed Kofar Wambai, Hajiya Rabi Aminu Me-Mai, Hon. Nasiru Hanga, Hon. Mu’azzam Marafa, Alhaji Nasiru Uwe, Alhaji Dauda Raula and Hon. Na Balalu Mai Turare, among others.

Sources said the meetings were convened as part of preparations for the party congresses and were meant to deliberate on strategies and pass resolutions on the party’s future. However, the decision by rival groups to meet separately suggests unresolved disagreements within the Kano APC.

A similar development was reported in the Dawakin-Tofa/Tofa/Rimingado Federal Constituency, where supporters of different APC aspirants reportedly clashed during a stakeholders’ unity meeting over the weekend.

Sources said the meeting, which was intended to strengthen party cohesion, was disrupted after heated verbal exchanges among supporters of prominent political figures.

The constituency is said to be highly contested due to the strong political interests attached to it. In a video that later went viral, the crisis reportedly began after Hajiya Hasiya Aminu, a former NNPP women leader in Dawakin-Tofa who recently defected to the APC, openly criticised the House of Representatives member representing the constituency, Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe.

Hasiya reportedly described the lawmaker as a failure and urged him to emulate the chairman of Dawakin-Tofa Local Government Area Council, Anas Mukhtar Bello Dan Maliki, and Engr. Abba Ganduje. Her remarks were said to have angered Jobe and his supporters, leading to a rowdy session that forced the meeting to end abruptly.

The gathering was said to be the first of its kind to bring together almost all political stakeholders and aspirants in the constituency.

Reacting to the developments, the APC spokesperson in Kano State, Ahmad Aruwa, dismissed claims of internal crisis within the party. He said members had continued to coexist peacefully since the governor’s defection.

According to him, the party has no record of any crisis, adding that stakeholders were only making efforts to resolve minor political differences ahead of the congresses.

“Ever since Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf defected to our party, we have been living peacefully. There is no rift in the APC. What is happening is normal in a democratic system where people may disagree before reaching consensus. Some local governments are only fine-tuning preparations ahead of the party congresses,” he said.

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