Fresh reports suggest that one of the major reasons Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State is being very careful about a possible return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) is what happened in Lagos State ahead of the 2019 governorship election.
At the time, Nigeria’s current President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, played a decisive role in stopping the then Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, from securing the APC ticket for a second term.
Ambode was forced to contest the party’s primary election against Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, who eventually won. This meant that Ambode, despite being the sitting governor, went into the 2019 election without the APC ticket.
The Lagos experience is now seen as a strong warning that being in APC does not automatically guarantee a sitting governor a return ticket, a reality that is reportedly worrying Governor Abba as he weighs his political future.
Reports also indicate that the APC leadership is not planning to give Abba an automatic ticket. Instead, he may be required to face a competitive party primary, a move driven by the large number of powerful APC figures in Kano eyeing the governorship seat.
Among those said to be interested are Senator Barau I. Jibrin, the Deputy Senate President, and Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the APC governorship candidate in the 2023 election, alongside other influential politicians.
In such a crowded field, returning to APC could expose Abba to a fierce and uncertain contest, especially given the strong influence party leaders have over primary election outcomes.
On the other hand, remaining in the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) under the leadership of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso offers Abba political protection and full control of the party structure in Kano — a comfort he may not enjoy in APC.
APC’s history also shows similar internal crises in other states. In Edo State, former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole attempted to apply the Lagos model ahead of the 2020 governorship election, which led to a major fallout with then Governor Godwin Obaseki.
That crisis eventually resulted in Oshiomhole being suspended from the party at his ward in Etsako West Local Government Area in November 2019.
These political lessons are now shaping Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s careful calculations, as he weighs the risks and benefits of returning to APC or remaining with NNPP in Kano State.
By Abubakar Turaki.
