Former Kano APC Lawmakers Refute Claims of Endorsing Barau Jibrin for 2027 Governorship Race
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline Newspaper
20th November, 2025
Former members of the Kano State House of Assembly have strongly dismissed a viral media report alleging that they endorsed the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, as their preferred choice for the 2027 governorship election. The rebuttal follows a flurry of public reactions triggered by the misleading publication circulating on several online platforms since Tuesday.
The former lawmakers, who met with Senator Barau earlier this week, described the report as “false, misleading, and capable of causing unnecessary tension within the All Progressives Congress (APC) family in Kano State.”
One of the former legislators, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the meeting with Senator Barau had nothing to do with endorsing any governorship aspirant.
“Senator Barau only invited us for a meeting, and as key stakeholders of the APC in Kano, we considered it proper to honor the invitation,” he said. “We discussed issues about strengthening the party, but at no point did we endorse Senator Barau as a governorship candidate.”
He described the publication as “shocking” and “fabricated,” noting that it misrepresented the true purpose of the gathering.
Another attendee also condemned the report in strong terms, arguing that such misinformation was aimed at destabilizing internal party cohesion ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Those pushing this narrative are being irresponsible. We never discussed endorsing anyone. Our focus was purely on party unity,” he stated.
The misleading report reportedly caused disquiet among some of the former lawmakers, forcing them to schedule an emergency meeting to clarify the matter and prevent further misunderstanding.
“This report is unfortunate and nearly caused avoidable tension among us. That is why we have convened another meeting to address the issue,” one of them explained.
The group emphasized that the APC follows clear and transparent procedures for selecting its governorship candidate, and no individual or group has the authority to preempt that process.
No endorsement was made for Senator Barau or any other aspirant.
Several APC stakeholders are interested in the ticket, and fairness demands that all aspirants be given equal opportunity.
They would continue engaging with any aspirant as part of their responsibilities as senior party stakeholders.
“People should stop twisting narratives for personal gain. We remain committed to supporting whoever emerges as the party’s flag bearer through a democratic process,” one of the former members said.
The former legislators jointly called on APC members and the general public to disregard the circulating claim entirely, describing it as a deliberate distortion aimed at creating political confusion.
Kano State, one of Nigeria’s largest political battlegrounds, has been witnessing intensified political activities ahead of the 2027 elections. Multiple high-profile figures within the APC are rumored to be eyeing the governorship seat, making the environment sensitive to any suggestion of endorsements or alliances.
Senator Barau Jibrin, currently the Deputy President of the Senate, is regarded as one of the most influential political actors in the state. His growing popularity has fueled speculation about a potential governorship bid, although he has not publicly declared interest.
This has made any meeting involving him and senior APC stakeholders a subject of political scrutiny.
The Kano APC has in recent years experienced factional divisions, especially during primaries and leadership tussles. This makes misinformation—such as a premature endorsement—particularly dangerous, as it could reignite old tensions.
Their backing (or perceived backing) can easily shape political narratives, making the false report especially sensitive.

