Rabiu Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has officially announced the party's governorship candidate for the 2027 gubernatorial election in Kano State. The announcement was made on Friday, May 29, 2026, through a statement released by Kwankwaso, who previously served as the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general elections and as governor of Kano State.
Selection of Candidate
According to Kwankwaso, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the immediate past deputy governor of Kano, has been selected as the NDC governorship candidate. Kwankwaso cited "fairness" and "loyalty" as the primary reasons for Gwarzo's nomination. Additionally, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kano during the 2023 elections, has been nominated as the NDC candidate for the Kano Central senatorial district in the 2027 general election.
Kwankwaso's statement reads in part: "This decision was made in the spirit of equity, fairness, loyalty, and competence, values that remain central to our party and Kwankwasiyya’s progress and unity."
Political Background
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano, a former political ally of Kwankwaso, had earlier left the NNPP to join the APC. However, Gwarzo chose not to follow the governor and instead resigned as deputy governor, demonstrating his loyalty to the Kwankwasiyya Movement. In the ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 elections, Gawuna also left the APC to join the NDC under Kwankwaso's leadership, initially aiming for the governorship. However, Kwankwaso has decided that Gawuna will contest for the senatorial seat while Gwarzo leads the party's governorship ticket.
Public Reactions
The announcement has sparked various reactions on social media. Faisal Balarabe expressed doubt about Kwankwaso's support in Kano, stating: "I don't think Kano people will give your candidates support this time around considering the fact that you betrayed the support they have been giving you. You betrayed the North, go join that boy Obi, it's a miscalculation. And you'll pay the price."
Saliu Adekunle questioned the selection process: "So let me get this straight. Peter Obi was handpicked as the NDC presidential candidate with no primaries, and people called it out. And now the Kano gubernatorial candidate has been 'selected' in the same party with the same process, and they are calling it equity and fairness. No votes. No primaries. Just a selection."
Abubakar Kabir noted Gawuna's popularity: "Is Gawuna not more popular than Gwarzo? I feel like it would have been easier for the NDC to choose someone who is already loved by the street. Madugu had his reasons sha, but comrade Gwarzo need to top up his game and be a real governor figure sha."
Birni echoed similar sentiments: "How on earth can you give the governorship ticket to Comrade while you have Gawuna. In terms of popularity, we all know Gawuna is more popular in the whole state than Comrade."
