As political season gears up, many aspirants directly or indirectly have began to warm up to fight for Kano’s number one seat in the 2023 general elections.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE takes a look at some of the aspirants who would josttle for the state’s highest office in the coming weeks.
Senator Barau Jibrin
Senator Barau Jibrin is the current senator representing Kano North Senatorial district. Until his fallout with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, he is the most favoured to take the party’s governorship ticket and eventully, the seat.
A two-term Senator and former member of the House of Representatives, he also chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriation and is seen as one of the top aspirants with the experience and resources to battle for the hot seat in 2023.
However, his move to align with Malam Ibrahim Shekarau against the incumbent governor may work against his aspiration unless President Muhammadu Buhari intervene to bring the two faction together ahead of the election.
General Ibrahim Sani
Major General Ibrahim Sani (rtd) is a foremost philanthropist and youth development advocate in Kano state. After leaving the army as Chief Transformation Officer, General Sani dedicated his time and resources into philanthropic activities through his Hasiya Ibrahim Sani Foundation (HISANEF).
Through this foundation, General Sani has provided transformers, science laboratories, libraries, ICT centers, boreholes to many secondary schools in Kano state. He is known for repairing water channels in the city, providing expectant mothers with kits containing essential needs in hospitals, training and providing ICT facilities to Hisbah board towards fighting drug abuse among youths.
It was revealed that some of the general’s associates are mobilizing consulting for him with a view to make him declare his intention to contest the number one seat. He is known to have cordial relationship with all the contending factions in the state’s political arena.
Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna
Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna is the current deputy governor of the state and a former Chairman of Nassarawa Local Government Area as well as as Commissioner for Agriculture between 2013-2015 and 2015-2018. He was appointed as deputy governor by Ganduje following the resignation of the then deputy governor, Professor Hafiz Abubakar.
Gawuna played a very vital role in the return of Ganduje in the 2019 general election and many believed Ganduje would return the favour by anointing him as his successor.
However, analysts said his chances are slim as he is not among Ganduje’s favourites for the seat.
Murtala Sule Garo
Murtala Sule Garo is the current Commissioner for Local Government Affairs. Garo is well known to most people across the length and breadth of the state for his silent moves to the Government House owing to the fact that he enjoys the support of majority of local government chairmen across the 44 local government areas of the state.
The young politician is said to be one of the few most powerful commissioners and its is believed that he will effectively use the control he has over the chairmen to actualise his ambition.
Kabiru Alhassan Rurum
Kabiru Alhassan Rurum is a political gladiator with an interesting grassroots history. He was once a Councilor in Lagos State and rose from an ordinary member in the Kano State House of Assembly to become the Speaker.
It was under his leadership that the House recommended the removal of the then Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
A current member of the House of Representatives, Rurum enjoys the support of APC stakeholders in Kano South who are canvassing for power shift to their zone in the 2023.
Analysts believed Rurum’s loyalty to Ganduje may earn him the party’s ticket but said such move would be resisted by some stakeholders.
Barrister Inuwa Waya
Barrister Inuwa Waya recently resigned from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and has made his intention to contest for the number one position public.
He is largely unknown within the state political terrain but many believed that with his wealth, he can maneuver his way to clinch the APC gubernatorial ticket.
Senator Kabiru Gaya
Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya is a former governor of Kano State under the military dispensation of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, between 1992 and 1993. He served as Senator for four consecutive terms.
However, many politicians in Kano believe that Gaya is not very serious about his ambition to become the governor of the state, as he operates very far away from the real people.
It is believed that he had used the governorship aspiration as bargain chip to keep himself in the Senate and may do the same this time.
Abdulsalam Zaura
Abdulsalam Abdulkarim Zaura, popularly known as AA Zaura is not new in Kano politics as he has aspired for the governorship seat under Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) in the past.
He has however defected to APC with the aim of succeeding Governor Ganduje in 2023.
Zaura has been moving around in long flashy convoy lately, raising speculation that he may have already been assured of the ticket.
Zaura has been spending a fortune in financing the party in tne state.
He is a successful businessman and also a close ally of APC national leader Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Muhuyi Rimin Gado
The suspended chairman of the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, is another aspirant eying the number one seat. He was one of the powerful men in Governor Ganduje’s cabinet before they fell apart.
After the failed romance with the state government, Muhuyi’s posters began to flood the streets of the ancient city as an aspirant.
Analysts believe his recent defection to the main opposition party, the PDP is indicative that he is serious about his aspiration to run for the seat.
Engineer Mu’azu Magaji
This is another political figure in Kano political setting. He was sacked as a commissioner for his social media comment on late Abba Kyari and later appointed as part chairman of the state’s AKK team. He was again sacked from the position by Ganduje.
Magaji was introduced into Kano state politics by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso in 2018 and since then,
.
Sources close to the engineer revealed that he will aspire for number one seat in the state.
Abba Kabir Yusuf
Abba Kabir Yusuf was the PDP candidate in the 2019 governorship election and his popularity still lingers in the state’s political terrain.
Although he has not yet indicated his interest to contest for the position, analysts said, Abba Gida-Gida as he is popularly known, is a politician to look out for any day.
Muhammad Ibrahim Little
Muhammad Ibrahim Little is one of the latest aspirant into the race to the Kano Government House. He picked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) form to run for the office of the governor on Saturday.
Little lost the 2003 All Peoples Party (APP)’s ticket to Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, who became the governor of the state that year and also contested on the platform of Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) the same year and lost.
He is a politician with experience and lots of fortune.
