BY IBRAHIM ISAH – The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) gubernatorial flag-bearer in Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has officially picked Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, son of Kwankwasiyya Movement leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as his running mate for the 2027 general elections.
The announcement was confirmed on Monday by Habibu Mohammad, spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and strong ally of the former governor who is the NDC’s Vice Presidential candidate for next year’s polls.
Comrade Gwarzo, a long-time associate of Senator Kwankwaso was the immediate past Deputy Governor of Kano State while Mustapha Kwankwaso served as the immediate past Kano State Commissioner for Youths and Sports.
Both of them served in the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf before resigning their appointments alongside other cabinet members following political realignments that saw the governor defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Recalled Comrade Gwarzo voluntarily resigned from office on March 27, 2026, amid intensifying political gridlock. While publicly maintaining that his exit was a strategic personal decision to shield the state administration from disruptive governance, Gwarzo’s sudden departure was heavily shadowed by an aggressive impeachment inquiry initiated by the Kano State House of Assembly (KSHA).
In formally alleging severe financial malfeasance, the lawmakers charged him with the unauthorized diversion of multi-million Naira local government allocations during his time as commissioner.
Though the House of Assembly ultimately withdrew the misconduct charges following his exit, insiders emphasize that the mounting legal and financial pressure effectively forced the political showdown that triggered his exit.
Amid the changing face of Kano politics, the Kwankwasiyya Movement, led by Senator Kwankwaso, has maintained that it is repositioning itself to reclaim political control of the North West State from the APC following recent defections and shifting alliances within the state’s political landscape.
Insiders maintained that the Movement is actively recalibrating its political strategy, relying on extensive door-to-door civic engagement and internal cohesion to woo voters across the 44 local government areas of the State.
According to its leadership, this intensive grassroots mobilization and the reinforcement of local ward structures will serve as the backbone of their broader campaign strategy as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
