Thousands of supporters of Honourable Abdulkarim Abdulsalam Zaura flooded the streets of Kano on Friday, staging a massive rally to reject rumours that the All Progressives Congress (APC) might deny him the party’s ticket for the Kano Central Senatorial seat. The protest, organised by a coalition of A.A. Zaura support groups, drew a large crowd of followers who urged party leaders to reconsider their position and endorse him as the party’s candidate.
Protesters Vow Resistance
The Director of A.A. Zaura’s support groups, Jafar Abdullah, led the members of the organisation in a procession that moved from the “Filin Sukuwa” grounds through major streets of the city. Addressing the crowd, Jafar declared that they came out to show the world that the people of Kano Central stand firmly behind A.A. Zaura and want him to represent them in the Senate.
“Abdulkarim Abdullahi Zaura deserves this opportunity,” Jafar said, pointing to Zaura’s long-standing service to the people and his support for the needy, despite never holding a government position.
Shekarau’s Entry Fuels Tension
Legit.ng correspondent in Kano spoke with some of the protesters who braved the sun to make their voices heard. “We will not accept any attempt to impose another candidate on us. Zaura has touched more lives than those who have held office for years. If the APC denies him the ticket, we will mobilise against the party in the general election,” said Malam Bello Idris, a 43-year-old trader.
Another protester, 30-year-old Hamid Yusuf, a student and member of one of the support groups, accused some party leaders of trying to hijack the process. “Why would they give the ticket to someone else when they know we have already chosen Zaura? We are watching, and we will resist any injustice,” he said.
Aminu Saleh, a youth leader in the group, explained that it is simply their time. “We have nothing against Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, but his time has passed. This is our turn. The party must respect the voice of the grassroots or risk losing the seat entirely.”
Political Context
Findings by Legit.ng show that the protest intensifies the already heated contest for the Kano Central Senatorial seat, especially after former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau submitted his nomination form to contest the same seat under the APC at the national level. Shekarau’s entry has further fueled political tension within the party in Kano.
Previously, Legit.ng reported that a man staged a protest at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, claiming he was abandoned after supporting the party’s 2023 campaign. The protester, holding a placard reading “Reward me or kill me,” said he sold his house to fund campaign activities and now struggles to pay his children’s school fees.
