A group of serving and former members of the Kano State House of Assembly have endorsed the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, as their preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election in Kano State.
The lawmakers, drawn from various Assemblies from 1999 to date and led by a former Speaker, Abdulaziz G. Gafasa, paid a courtesy visit to Senator Barau recently to declare their support. Their endorsement was contained in a statement issued by the senator’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ismail Mudashir, and made available to New Daily Prime on Wednesday.
The group described Barau as “the most marketable candidate” for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, citing his longstanding contributions to Kano’s development and his influence at the national level. Barau, a senior legislator and First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, has not yet formally declared his intention to contest in 2027. However, speculation has grown in recent months as influential stakeholders continue to rally behind him.
Former Speaker Gafasa outlined three key reasons for their endorsement.
“We are here to tell you that we are solidly behind you for three reasons. One, you have positively impacted the lives of our people across the three senatorial districts of Kano State. Two, you have been a lifeline to our party, the APC. Thirdly, you have positively touched our lives, even though some of us are not from your senatorial district. This has made you the most marketable candidate in the APC,” he said.
A serving lawmaker, Garba Yau Gwarmai of Ghari/Tsanyawa Constituency, also pledged full mobilisation of grassroots supporters for Barau’s anticipated campaign.
“This endorsement is based on your track record of outstanding service over the years. You have made a positive impact on the lives of our people and performed well in all spheres of our state. This is why we want you to govern Kano,” he stated.
In his response, Senator Barau expressed gratitude for the lawmakers’ support, stressing the need for unity and renewed commitment to restoring what he described as the “glorious days” of Kano State. He urged the politicians—many of whom he called seasoned grassroots mobilisers—to remain steadfast in promoting the ideals of the APC and President Bola Tinubu.
“We have to work hard and make sacrifices to restore the glorious days of our state. It is a joy that you have come together to rescue our state from ongoing misgovernance. Let us continue to work together to rescue our beloved state,” he said.
The endorsement adds to a growing list of support blocs positioning Barau as a leading contender ahead of the 2027 race, signalling an intensifying political atmosphere in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most influential states.
