Kwankwaso secretly backing Tinubu for 2027, Kano gov’s aide claims

A top aide to the Kano State Government has accused former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of covertly working to secure President Bola Tinubu’s return to power in the 2027 general elections.

The Director-General of Media and Publicity at the Kano Government House, Sunusi Tofa, made the explosive claim on Wednesday during a live television programme, while discussing political realignments ahead of the next election cycle.

Tofa argued that recent political manoeuvres and strategic engagements by opposition figures, including Kwankwaso, ultimately favour the ruling All Progressives Congress and the President’s second-term ambition.

“Former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is indirectly or strategically working towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid,” Tofa stated. He added that many political activities already unfolding across the country are designed to boost Tinubu’s chances.

The government spokesperson further disclosed that Governor Abba Yusuf had approached President Tinubu to discuss a possible defection to the APC, reportedly with Kwankwaso’s blessing. He claimed the move also had the backing of a former deputy governor of the state, Aminu Gwarzo.

Tofa also suggested that Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, may struggle to gain political traction in Kano due to the state’s deeply conservative political culture, which is shaped by ideology, history, and regional considerations.

He dismissed claims that about five million supporters recently gathered at Kwankwaso’s residence in Kano, calling the figure a gross exaggeration. “Even major public venues in Kano do not have such capacity. Kwankwaso’s residence cannot accommodate more than 2,000 people,” he said.

Attempts to reach Kwankwaso for a reaction were unsuccessful as of the time of this report.

The political relationship between Kwankwaso and the current Kano State government has remained one of the most closely watched rivalries since the 2023 elections. Kwankwaso, a former defence minister and two-time senator, commands a fiercely loyal following known as the Kwankwasiyya movement, easily recognised by their red caps.

He ran for president in 2023 under the New Nigeria Peoples Party and won Kano State, though he lost nationally. His political structure was widely credited with delivering the governorship to Yusuf, who defeated the APC candidate on the NNPP platform. However, cracks have since emerged between Kwankwaso and Yusuf over political direction, appointments, and state governance.