The attendance of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin at private events hosted by opposition Senator Kawu Sumaila in Kano has sparked controversy and speculation about political realignments.
Sumaila, representing Kano South under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), left the APC ahead of the 2023 elections due to internal leadership disputes. However, his recent interactions with top APC figures have raised questions about his political future.
Senate Delegation Joins Wedding Celebration
Jibrin confirmed in a statement on Friday that he led a delegation of federal lawmakers to the wedding of Sumaila’s children.
“Today, (21 February), I led the Senate delegation to the wedding ceremony of Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila’s and Alhaji Abdulmanaf Yunusa Sarina’s children in Sumaila town, Kano State,” he stated.
He added that the ceremonies, which united Dr. Khadija Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila with Faisal Abdulmanaf Sarina and Maryam Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila with Bello Ibrahim Ma’aji, were officiated by Professor Salisu Shehu, the Imam of Sumaila Jumaat Mosque.
Ganduje and Jibrin Also Attend University Convocation
On Saturday, both Jibrin and Ganduje attended the first convocation of Al-Istiqama University, a private institution reportedly founded by Sumaila in Sumaila Local Government Area.
Their presence at these events has triggered unease within the NNPP, particularly on social media, where speculation is growing that Sumaila may be planning to return to the APC.
NNPP Members Question Sumaila’s Political Loyalty
Party members have raised concerns about why Sumaila engaged with opposition figures, including former Kano governor Ibrahim Shekarau of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while sidelining NNPP leader Rabiu Kwankwaso and Governor Abba Yusuf.
Efforts to reach Sumaila for comments were unsuccessful, as his phone remained unreachable on Saturday evening.
Rift Between Sumaila and NNPP-Led Kano Government
Sumaila has had a strained relationship with the NNPP-led Kano government, particularly over the reinstatement of deposed Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and the repeal of the 2019 State Emirate Council Law, which dismantled the five-emirate system created under Ganduje.
Sumaila and some lawmakers from Kano South opposed the move, arguing that dissolving all five emirates was against the interests of their constituents. Since then, he and his allies have distanced themselves from the NNPP administration.
Potential Defection to APC?
If Sumaila decides to switch back to the APC, he would join a growing list of opposition lawmakers aligning with the ruling party.
The NNPP, currently Nigeria’s fourth-largest political party by parliamentary representation, has its stronghold in Kano, the only state it governs. Its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, finished fourth, securing a win only in Kano State.
