Kano NNPP Crisis: Minister hints at moves to return NNPP lawmakers to APC
By Bala Salihu Dawakin kudu Northern Bureau Chief
November 15, 2024
The political landscape in Kano is undergoing a seismic shift as efforts are underway to bring key New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) figures back into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The newly appointed Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, is leading this drive, aiming to address discontent within the NNPP ranks and reinforce APC’s foothold in Kano State.
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Ata, whose appointment has been described as a strategic move by the APC leadership, has confirmed his commitment to persuading influential NNPP members like Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila and Representative Kabiru Alhassan Rurum to rejoin the APC. These political figures, significant players in Kano politics, left the APC for the NNPP in 2023 over grievances regarding what they saw as marginalization, particularly the perceived lack of representation for Kano South in the APC’s gubernatorial lineup.
Senator Sumaila, representing Kano South, and Representative member. Rurum, who serves the Kibiya, Rano, and Bunkure federal constituency, were vocal about their dissatisfaction with the APC’s candidate selection process.
Their departure to the NNPP signaled discontent and highlighted fissures within the APC that Ata now aims to mend. In particular, Ata’s focus is on restoring faith and unity among these influential leaders, which could significantly strengthen the APC’s position in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.
The crisis within the NNPP, which has grown evident over recent months, presents an opening that Ata seeks to leverage. Prominent NNPP leaders, including Aliyu Sani Madakin-Gini, the Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives and representative for Dala federal constituency, have expressed concerns about the party’s direction and internal struggles. Ata’s outreach efforts reflect an understanding of the importance of rebuilding alliances with influential politicians who have felt alienated by recent developments.
Ata emphasized that his political mission extends beyond mere allegiance shifts. He believes that a balanced approach across Kano’s regional factions is vital for APC’s success, noting the need for strategic involvement from Kano’s northern and central regions. “The northern Kano area, where figures like Ganduje, Abba Bichi, Murtala, and T. Gwarzo are based, was the only area where APC won elections.
Expanding our coalition across the state is essential,” Ata stated. This outreach includes prominent leaders such as Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, Kawu Sumaila, and Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, another former APC member and current NNPP representative of the Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency, who left the party for similar reasons of disenfranchisement.
In a recent interview, Ata indicated that his appointment has a clear political agenda—delivering Kano for the APC in the 2027 elections. According to Ata, his role is about demonstrating that loyal party members who have invested in the APC’s growth are recognized and rewarded. This approach, he believes, will also inspire trust among Kano’s electorate and consolidate support across the region’s factions.
Ata’s efforts come as the APC seeks to capitalize on the NNPP’s internal discord and establish itself as the dominant party in Kano once again. With the potential return of political heavyweights like Sumaila, Rurum, and Kofa, the APC is positioning itself to reclaim Kano’s political landscape, targeting not only NNPP’s leadership but also its grassroots support.
