Kano Senator Rufa’i Hanga May Join APC, Says Obi and Kwankwaso Can't Win Elections

Speculations are growing that Senator Rufa’i Hanga from Kano Central District, who belongs to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), might switch to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). This follows a meeting he had with Governor Abba Yusuf.

After the meeting, Mr Hanga expressed doubts about his party's chances in the upcoming elections. He remarked that the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, cannot win the 2027 presidential election.

Before his meeting with the governor, Mr Hanga had already met with the APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda. These meetings have led many political watchers to believe that Hanga plans to leave his longtime ally, Kwankwaso.

Their friendship reportedly soured after Mr Hanga lost his senatorial ticket and was overlooked for the NDC deputy governorship candidate position.

Mr Hanga did not share what was discussed in his private meetings with the governor and the APC chairman. But during an interview with Freedom Radio on Friday, he said he no longer believes in the NDC’s political future.

He noted that after closely analyzing the current political landscape, neither Obi nor Kwankwaso have the support needed to win the presidential election. "In the north, Obi has Kwankwaso as running mate, and Kwankwaso is only popular in Kano. Even now, his popularity is 50/50 because previously, while we were in the ADC, we had people in Katsina, Jigawa, and Kaduna, but now we no longer have them because those people refused to join us in the NDC and remain in the ADC.

"Peter Obi can only win in Anambra and get some percentage of votes in some states in the south," Mr Hanga stated.

He further stated that the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has a better chance of winning in the North-west and North-east regions than President Bola Tinubu. He linked this to growing dissatisfaction with the current government, mentioning that rising insecurity and Tinubu’s economic policies are hurting his popularity. "Even southerners are protesting that Tinubu must go in 2027," he said.

Breaking Away from Kwankwaso

Mr Hanga’s strong criticism of his party’s presidential ticket surprised many political observers. This is especially true since he had recently declared his loyalty to the Kwankwasiyya movement while accusing Governor Yusuf of betrayal.

Now, the lawmaker seems to have changed his view. He said he understands the governor’s choice to leave Kwankwaso and move to the APC, which he no longer sees as a betrayal. "Now, if I leave Kwankwaso, nobody can say I betrayed anybody. If anyone says I betrayed someone, I will recommend that person to be sent to Goron Dutse Prison or Dawanau Psychiatric Hospital," Mr Hanga said.

He added, "When Abba Yusuf left, if I had followed him, that is when they would have said I betrayed Kwankwaso. I stayed with Kwankwaso and followed him through the nooks and crannies of this country. I was with him. If tomorrow I say I am no longer following him, should that be seen as betrayal?" This was stated in a separate video that is circulating online.

Sources close to the situation revealed that Mr Hanga’s relationship with Mr Kwankwaso started to decline after the party’s primaries. The senator lost his chance to represent Kano Central and was also passed over for the deputy governorship position, which he expected as a form of compensation.

The NDC picked Mustapha Kwankwaso, the eldest son of Mr Kwankwaso, as the running mate to the governorship candidate, Aminu Abdulsalam. Mr Hanga said he was abroad for a medical checkup when the announcement for the running mate was made.