Hanga Refutes Gwarzo’s Claim, Says Kwankwaso Approved Son’s Emergence Before Nomination.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Northern Bureau Chief, Democracy Newsline
July 13, 2026.
KANO — Senator Rufa’i Hanga, who represents Kano Central Senatorial District, has dismissed claims made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate in Kano State, Comrade Abdulsalam Gwarzo, regarding the emergence of Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as the party’s deputy governorship candidate.
The senator described Gwarzo’s assertion—that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was initially reluctant to allow his son to accept the position—as “completely false,” insisting that the former Kano governor was duly consulted before any decision was reached.
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According to Senator Hanga, the leadership of the NDC approached Senator Kwankwaso well before the party finalized its decision, seeking his opinion on the possibility of fielding his son, Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, for the governorship ticket.
He explained that Kwankwaso expressed his support for the proposal during the consultations. Hanga further revealed that he personally requested to serve as Director-General of Mustapha Kwankwaso’s campaign should the governorship nomination be confirmed.
The senator stated that events later took a different turn. While he was outside the country, he received information that the party had instead announced Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as its deputy governorship candidate.
Hanga maintained that these developments clearly demonstrate that Senator Kwankwaso was informed and consulted throughout the process, contrary to suggestions that he was pressured or only reluctantly accepted his son’s nomination.
His remarks come amid growing political debate following Comrade Abdulsalam Gwarzo’s comments on how the party arrived at the decision to nominate Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as its deputy governorship candidate.
The differing accounts have generated public discussion within Kano’s political landscape, with party supporters and political observers closely following the controversy.
As the political atmosphere ahead of the elections continues to intensify, the exchange highlights the competing narratives emerging from key figures within the NDC. It also underscores the significance of internal consultations and consensus-building in determining the party’s leadership choices.
Neither Comrade Abdulsalam Gwarzo nor the NDC leadership had publicly responded to Senator Hanga’s latest remarks at the time of filing this report.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JULY 14TH 2026)
