KANO, May 29 – Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the immediate past deputy governor of Kano State, has been nominated as the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso said on Friday.
Kwankwaso, a key figure in the Kwankwasiyya political movement, announced the decision in a statement on his verified X account, saying the choice reflected “equity, fairness, loyalty, and competence.”
He said the decision followed a stakeholders’ meeting of the NDC held at his residence in Kano, where consensus candidates were selected for key positions, including the senatorial ticket for Kano Central.
Gwarzo, who served as deputy governor from May 2023 until early 2026 under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, had previously held political roles including commissioner for state affairs and local government chairman in Kano.
He resigned earlier this year amid political tensions within the state government, including disagreements linked to party realignments and an impeachment process.
Kwankwaso also announced Dr Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna as the party’s candidate for Kano Central Senatorial District.
The NDC, a relatively new opposition party attracting several high-profile political figures, has been positioning itself ahead of the 2027 general elections, including zoning its presidential ticket to southern Nigeria.
The development underscores shifting political alliances in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most influential electoral battlegrounds, where Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, now aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is expected to seek re-election.
Kwankwaso’s endorsement is expected to strengthen Gwarzo’s grassroots support base through the influential Kwankwasiyya movement.
