A senior figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Mr Seyi Olorunsola, has insisted that the party can secure victory in the 2027 general elections – including the presidential and gubernatorial races – without the involvement of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Olorunsola, who serves as the Convener of the Tinubu/Barau/Atah Movement, made the comments during a press conference in Kano on Sunday. He accused President Bola Tinubu and APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, of unnecessarily courting the former governor of Kano State.
“The APC in Kano has perfected a winning strategy that does not rely on the former governor’s influence,” Olorunsola declared.
He argued that Kwankwaso cannot match the collective political weight of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Minister of State for Housing Yusuf Abdullahi Atah, and Senator Kawu Sumaila – all of whom, he said, form the backbone of the APC’s electoral strategy in the state.
“Yusuf Abdullahi Atah is from Kano Central and will effectively counter Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s influence in that zone. Kano North is firmly under the grip of Barau Jibrin and former governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, while the Southern District is well represented by Senator Kawu Sumaila. By our calculation, we have a formidable campaign team ahead of the 2027 general elections,” Olorunsola explained.
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He also revealed that the Tinubu/Barau/Atah Movement is throwing its full support behind a gubernatorial ticket consisting of Barau Jibrin as the candidate, with Atah as his running mate. According to him, this plan has unsettled Kwankwaso, who he accused of attempting to disrupt it.
“Kwankwaso is aware of this arrangement and is afraid of Barau’s growing popularity in the state. That is why he is desperate to join APC and scuttle that arrangement,” he alleged.
Olorunsola further revisited the controversy surrounding the 2023 governorship election in Kano, reiterating his belief that the APC was the rightful winner before the Supreme Court’s intervention.
“The tribunal and Court of Appeal affirmed our victory, stating that Abba Yusuf was not a valid candidate of the NNPP and that illegal ballot papers were used. They were already packing out of Government House when everything changed overnight at the Supreme Court. The whole world is a witness to what happened,” he said.
Issuing a warning to President Tinubu, Olorunsola urged him not to overestimate Kwankwaso’s political relevance in the state.
“President Tinubu should not make the mistake of thinking Kwankwaso will deliver him in Kano. Tinubu is not the sole owner of the APC. He is the leader of the party and president of the country, but he cannot dictate our strategy for Kano. He can only advise as a leader,” he stated.
On the possibility of Kwankwaso joining the APC, Olorunsola was firm that the former governor must follow due process.
“As Dr Ganduje has already said, Kwankwaso must obey the rules, constitution, and principles of the APC. Why is he talking about a letter on social media? He should come out and state clearly whether or not he intends to join APC,” he concluded.
The statements mark a new phase in Kano’s complex political landscape, as the APC begins early manoeuvring ahead of what is expected to be a fiercely contested 2027 election season.
