In Nigeria, opposition leaders under the new African Democratic Congress (ADC) coalition are eager to secure Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s loyalty ahead of the 2027 elections. But the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is equally determined to bring him into its fold.
Since the 2023 election, both Bola Tinubu and his strategists have viewed Kwankwaso as a potential kingmaker whose support could tilt the balance of power, particularly in the north.
The battle for Kano, northern Nigeria’s most populous state with over six million registered voters, is expected to be pivotal in the next election. Whoever controls Kano will likely have a strong foothold in determining the outcome of the 2027 polls.
Kwankwaso, founder of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and a two-term former governor of Kano State, remains an influential political figure there.
Between the presidency and the opposition
For many around Kwankwaso, his next political move is only a matter of time. He is seen to have several viable options, though none appears to include contesting the presidency himself.
Sources close to him say he is considering aligning with Tinubu, with hopes of being selected as running mate in 2027, especially amid persistent speculation about Vice President Kashim Shettima’s future.
Another option reportedly being discussed is for Kwankwaso to join the emerging ADC-led opposition coalition, possibly as running mate if former president Goodluck Jonathan agrees to lead the ticket.
Within Kwankwaso’s camp, there is talk of a possible return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his former platform, if the party manages to reconcile its factions and persuade Jonathan to run. In this case, Kwankwaso is said to be eyeing the vice-presidential slot.
With these possibilities on the table, focus has shifted to the tight circle of trusted allies who influence Kwankwaso’s political moves – figures who have stood by him through decades and political shifts.
The in-law and loyalist: Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf
At the top of this list is Kano’s current governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf (1), Kwankwaso’s long-time aide and in-law. Popularly called ‘Abba PA’, a nod to his years as Kwankwaso’s personal assistant, Yusuf’s loyalty to his mentor spans over three decades.
Their relationship began in the 1980s at the Kano State Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency (WRECA), where both served as civil engineers. When Kwankwaso resigned from the agency to join politics, Yusuf soon followed suit.
During Kwankwaso’s first tenure as governor (1999–2003), Yusuf served as his personal assistant and continued in that role when Kwankwaso became defence minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo. On Kwankwaso’s return as governor in 2011, Yusuf was appointed principal private secretary and later commissioner for works, one of the most powerful positions in the state government.
Following Kwankwaso’s exit in 2015, Yusuf remained his private secretary until he was handpicked as the Kwankwasiyya candidate for the 2019 governorship election, which he narrowly lost. In 2023, with Kwankwaso’s backing, he reclaimed victory and now governs Kano as one of the closest political allies of his mentor.
The unionist, spokesman and deputy: Aminu Abdussalam
Another powerful figure in the Kwankwasiyya hierarchy is Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo (2), the deputy governor of Kano. A former national president of the Nigerian Union of Civil Servants, Abdussalam was one of the few unionists who successfully transitioned into mainstream politics in Kano.
His alliance with Kwankwaso dates back to around 2007, when he became chairman of Gwarzo Local Government Area. He was later appointed commissioner for state affairs during Kwankwaso’s second term as governor.
Before assuming his current role, Abdussalam was widely regarded as Kwankwaso’s de facto spokesman and the only one authorised to speak for the movement publicly. His political resilience was further strengthened after the fallout between Kwankwaso and his former deputy, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who succeeded him and later became APC’s national chairman.
Abdussalam’s loyalty was rewarded with his nomination as Yusuf’s running mate in both the 2019 and 2023 elections. Today, he serves as Kwankwaso’s chief political coordinator in Kano, overseeing mobilisation and maintaining the ideological coherence of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
The veteran strategist: Buba Galadima
In the broader national arena, Buba Galadima (3) serves as Kwankwaso’s most prominent ally and defender. A veteran politician and vocal critic of successive administrations, Galadima first rose to national prominence as a member of the inner circle of then-general Muhammadu Buhari.
He served as national secretary of The Buhari Organisation (TBO), which later morphed into the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
However, after falling out with Buhari, Galadima became one of the fiercest critics of his government and found a new ally in Kwankwaso. Their partnership, according to insiders, is rooted in shared ideological convictions; both are regarded as populists with radical leanings and a deep commitment to mass mobilisation.
Galadima’s fearless advocacy and media savvy have made him the unofficial voice of Kwankwaso at the national level. He frequently articulates the former governor’s positions on governance and electoral issues, often taking on critics in public debates.
While not formally designated as spokesman, his statements are widely interpreted as reflective of Kwankwaso’s thinking.
The extended inner circle: Senator Rufai Hanga, Hashim Dungurawa, Donald Duke, Lucky Igbinedion, Ladipo Johnson
Beyond these key figures, Kwankwaso’s influence is sustained through a network of loyalists occupying strategic positions in politics, business and civil society. Among them is Senator Rufai Hanga (4), who represents Kano Central, Kwankwaso’s senatorial district. Hanga was a colleague of Kwankwaso in the 1992 House of Representatives.
Another influential figure is Hashim Dungurawa(5), the Kano State chairman of Kwankwaso’s New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP). Dungurawa serves as the critical link between the state structure and the national leadership, ensuring discipline within the movement.
Several members of the House of Representatives and local political operatives also maintain direct ties to Kwankwaso’s camp, feeding him intelligence from the grassroots.
While his national reach in the south remains limited, Kwankwaso maintains cordial relationships with several former governors, including Donald Duke (6) of Cross River State and Lucky Igbinedion(7) of Edo State. These contacts, sources say, provide him with informal political networks and intelligence from the southern regions, even though they rarely appear publicly in his political orbit.
In Lagos, Ladipo Johnson (8), the NNPP’s national spokesman, is among Kwankwaso’s most trusted aides. A lawyer and long-time associate, Johnson has been central to shaping the party’s media and legal strategies since its rebranding ahead of the 2023 election.
Business allies and strategic relationships: Alhaji Adamu Yahaya Maikifi, Alhaji Dahiru Mangal, Rasheed Ladoja, Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu
Kwankwaso’s influence extends beyond politics into the business world, where he is associated with several key figures who provide financial and logistical support. One of his closest business allies is Alhaji Adamu Yahaya Maikifi (9), chairman and CEO of Maikifi Oil & Gas Ltd. and AY Maikifi Petroleum Company Nigeria Ltd.
Although details of their business relationship remain unclear, Maikifi is frequently seen alongside Kwankwaso at public events and on foreign trips. There has been speculation that Kwankwaso holds stakes in some of Maikifi’s ventures, though this has not been independently verified.
Another powerful associate is Alhaji Dahiru Mangal (10), founder of Max Air and one of Nigeria’s most prominent businessmen. The bond between the two families was recently strengthened through marriage when Mangal’s son, Fahad, married Kwankwaso’s daughter, Dr. Aisha Kwankwaso. The union is widely described as a merger of political and business dynasties.
Kwankwaso is also known to maintain cordial ties with Rasheed Ladoja (11), the former governor of Oyo State and now a traditional ruler. Both men reportedly share business interests in the agricultural sector, particularly in the palm oil industry.
Additionally, Kwankwaso enjoys warm relations with two of Nigeria’s most influential industrialists: Aliko Dangote (12) of the Dangote Group and Abdul Samad Rabiu (13) of BUA Group. Though these relationships are largely private, associates say they reflect a mutual respect rooted in years of political and business interaction.
Kwankwaso’s careful cultivation of relationships across political and business lines underscores his strategy of maintaining relevance without committing prematurely to any camp.
His Kwankwasiyya Movement remains one of the most organised political structures in Nigeria, with deep roots in Kano and growing presence in parts of the north-west and north-central.
(The Africa Report)
