Olusegun Ariyo
A top member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, Seyi Olorunsola, says the party can win the 2027 elections for President Bola Tinubu, its governorship candidate, and all APC candidates in the state without the involvement of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Speaking at a press conference in Kano on Sunday, Olorunsola, who is the Convener of the Tinubu/Barau/Atah Movement, accused Tinubu and APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, of giving Kwankwaso unnecessary attention.
“The APC in Kano has perfected a winning strategy that does not rely on the former governor’s influence,” he said.
He argued that Kwankwaso cannot outweigh the combined strength of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Minister of State for Housing Yusuf Abdullahi Atah, and Senator Kawu Sumaila.
“Yusuf Abdullahi Atah is from Kano Central; he will checkmate Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from that zone. Kano North has Barau Jibrin and former governor and immediate past APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, while Kano Southern District has Senator Kawu Sumaila. By our calculation, we have a formidable campaign team for the 2027 general polls,” Olorunsola said.
He disclosed that the Tinubu/Barau/Atah Movement is backing Barau Jibrin as the APC governorship candidate for 2027, with Atah as his running mate, and accused Kwankwaso of trying to disrupt the plan.
“Kwankwaso is aware of this arrangement and is afraid of Barau’s growing popularity in the state. That is why he is desperate to join APC and scuttle that arrangement,” he claimed.
Olorunsola also revisited the 2023 governorship election in Kano, insisting APC originally won before the Supreme Court overturned the decision.
“The tribunal and Court of Appeal affirmed our victory, saying Abba Yusuf was not a member and candidate of the NNPP, and that they thumb-printed illegal ballot papers. They were already packing out of Government House when everything changed overnight at the Supreme Court. The whole world is a witness to what happened,” he said.
He warned Tinubu not to overestimate Kwankwaso’s political value.
“President Tinubu should not make the mistake of thinking Kwankwaso will deliver him in Kano. Tinubu is not the sole owner of APC. He is the leader of the party and president of the country. He cannot tell us what to do to win Kano; he can only advise us as a leader,” Olorunsola maintained.
He added that Kwankwaso must follow the proper procedure if he wants to join the APC.
“Like Dr Ganduje has told him, he must obey the APC’s rules and regulations, the constitution, and the party’s principles and ideologies. Why is Kwankwaso talking about a letter, submitted or not, on social media? He should come out clearly that he is not joining the APC,” Olorunsola concluded.
