The 2023 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kano State, Dr Nasiru Gawuna, is set to dump the Nigeria Democratic Congress for the African Democratic Congress following ongoing negotiations between both parties, The PUNCH has learnt.
Findings by our correspondent revealed that discussions between Gawuna’s camp and the ADC leadership in Kano had reached an advanced stage, with both sides expected to hold a final meeting on Monday to conclude the arrangement.
The Kano State chairman of the ADC, Musa Ungogo, confirmed the development in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Monday, saying Gawuna initiated the talks through emissaries who met with the party leadership over the weekend.
Ungogo dismissed claims circulating on social media that the ADC was courting the former deputy governor, insisting that the move came from Gawuna and his associates.
“The story being circulated that the ADC approached Gawuna is not correct. It was Gawuna who approached us. He sent a delegation to meet us, and discussions have been ongoing since then,” he said.
According to the ADC chairman, Gawuna’s delegation included a former Chairman of Kumbotso Local Government Area, Alhaji Sagir Fanshekara, and Hon Kadawa.
He said the delegation met with him and the party’s state secretary on Saturday as part of efforts to negotiate the terms of Gawuna’s entry into the party.
Ungogo disclosed that among the demands presented by Gawuna’s camp was the ADC governorship ticket for the 2027 election.
He added that the former APC governorship candidate was also seeking political accommodation for some of his loyalists interested in contesting state assembly and National Assembly seats.
“They came with a number of requests. One of their major demands is that Dr Gawuna should emerge as the party’s governorship candidate. They also requested opportunities for some of their supporters who are interested in the state assembly and National Assembly tickets,” he said.
The chairman further revealed that Gawuna’s camp had proposed a consensus arrangement under which other governorship aspirants in the party would withdraw from the race.
“They told us that even if the party decides to conduct primary elections, aspirants should step down for him because, according to them, he has political strength in several local government areas and possesses the capacity to lead the party to victory.
“They specifically requested a consensus arrangement and asked that the other aspirants support him,” Ungogo said.
According to him, the ADC leadership had requested a formal written submission detailing all the demands and political interests of Gawuna’s camp.
“We asked them to provide a written document outlining all their requests. We also asked them to indicate the positions they are seeking and the local government areas where they have interests.
“We are expected to hold another meeting today. After receiving the document, we will study it carefully and make our position known,” he said.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, Ungogo stressed that no final agreement had been reached.
“Consultations are still ongoing. Nothing has been concluded yet. We want a solution that will be acceptable to all stakeholders and beneficial to the party,” he added.
A close associate of Gawuna also confirmed the talks to The PUNCH but declined to comment further.
“I am not his spokesperson, and I am not authorised to speak on the matter. What I can confirm is that consultations are ongoing,” the source said.
The latest development comes barely three months after Gawuna resigned his membership of the All Progressives Congress and stepped down as chairman of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria.
Following his exit from the APC in March, Gawuna briefly joined the ADC alongside members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement before defecting to the Nigeria Democratic Congress in May alongside the National Leader of the movement, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, and a large number of their supporters.
Upon joining the NDC, the former Kano governorship candidate accepted the party’s Kano Central senatorial ticket, while the party settled for the immediate past deputy governor of Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, as its consensus governorship candidate for the 2027 election.
The development is expected to further reshape Kano’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, with major parties intensifying consultations and political realignments across the state.
