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By:Abdullahi Inuwa
Kano politics has never been a game of whispers. It is loud, emotional, deeply personal—and brutally unforgiving. At its very centre stands one constant force: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Love him or loathe him, his political gravity is unquestionable. And as 2027 inches closer, the mere suggestion that Kwankwaso could dump the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is already shaking the foundations of Kano’s power structure.
This is not idle gossip. In Kano, political rumours often travel faster than official announcements—and they matter. If Kwankwaso makes that move and fields a candidate under the ADC banner, the aftershocks could be historic. No one would feel it more than Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, popularly called Gida-Gida, especially if he chooses the controversial path of defying his political godfather and pitching his tent with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
One Man, One Movement
Kano elections are not won on billboards or TV debates. They are won on the streets, in neighbourhoods, at mosques, and in the hearts of voters. For over two decades, Kwankwaso has mastered this terrain. He did not just build a party structure; he built a movement—complete with identity, symbols, and unwavering loyalty.
The red cap is not just a fashion item; it is a political statement. The Kwankwasiyya movement is not merely an organisation; it is a belief system. In Kano, followers do not ask which party Kwankwaso belongs to—they ask where Kwankwaso is standing. Then they line up behind him.
This is the reality Abba Gida-Gida must confront.
The Governor’s Dilemma
Abba’s rise to power was not accidental. It was the product of Kwankwaso’s endorsement, machinery, and grassroots mobilisation. In Kano’s political culture, that kind of backing creates a bond stronger than party membership. It creates an obligation—moral, political, and emotional.
Yet politics is also about ambition. Reports and whispers of Abba “chasing money,” influence, and federal protection have complicated the narrative. To many grassroots supporters, the idea of abandoning the man who lifted him to power is not strategic—it is sacrilegious.
Kano voters have long memories. They remember who stood by whom in the trenches. They remember betrayals. And they punish them ruthlessly.
Defiance Has a Price
Kwankwaso is not known for public tantrums, but he is known for quiet, calculated consequences. Those who cross him rarely recover politically in Kano. His followers are loyal not out of fear, but out of conviction. When they feel their leader has been wronged, they do not split their loyalty—they double down.
If Abba defects to the APC while Kwankwaso moves to the ADC, the governor risks becoming a leader without a base. He may have the power of incumbency, but incumbency without street loyalty in Kano is like a car without fuel—shiny, expensive, and useless on election day.
ADC: From Fringe to Force
The ADC, on its own, is not a dominant party in Kano. But parties do not win elections in Kano—movements do. Kwankwaso’s entry into the ADC would instantly transform it from a minor platform into a major political earthquake.
Such a move would splinter the political map:
The APC would face a divided opposition but also a re-energised grassroots force hostile to perceived betrayals.
The NNPP would be stripped of its biggest asset—Kwankwaso’s name, credibility, and mobilisation power.
Abba Gida-Gida would be forced to fight on unfamiliar terrain, possibly against the very structure that once carried him to victory.
2027: Loyalty vs Survival
This is no longer just about party logos. It is about identity. Kano politics runs on loyalty, not convenience. The question before Abba is brutally simple: Can he win Kano without Kwankwaso? History offers a cold answer.
If Kwankwaso moves to the ADC, he will not just be changing platforms—he will be redefining alliances, redrawing loyalties, and re-awakening a base that thrives on perceived injustice. Any candidate standing opposite him will face not just an opponent, but a movement fueled by emotion and memory.
A Storm Gathering
As 2027 approaches, Kano is heading for a political reckoning. If Kwankwaso walks, Kano will roar. And if Abba Gida-Gida stands on the wrong side of that roar, the consequences could be decisive.
In Kano, power flows from loyalty. Parties come and go. Money comes and goes. But movements endure. And history suggests that where Kwankwaso goes, Kano follows.
Abdullahi Inuwa
Social Commentator
ainuwa303@gmail.com
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