GOVERNOR of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has intensified political consultations with former governor Ibrahim Shekarau, in what appears to be a strategic move to consolidate his position ahead of the 2027 elections.
News Point Nigeria reports that the development comes amid a wave of political realignments that have significantly altered the power dynamics in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most politically influential states.
The political equation in Kano shifted dramatically after Governor Yusuf dumped his mentor, the national leader of the NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move widely interpreted as part of a broader strategy to strengthen his political base.
In a related development, Kwankwaso also exited the party, aligning instead with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The defections have triggered a chain reaction across the state’s political spectrum, with key actors repositioning ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Further complicating the political landscape, Nasir Gawuna, who contested against Yusuf in the last gubernatorial election, recently left the APC to join the ADC.
His move was publicly endorsed by Kwankwaso, who personally witnessed his registration into the party, signalling a strengthening of the ADC’s presence in Kano.
Against this backdrop, Governor Yusuf has reportedly moved to shore up support within the APC by reaching out to influential political figures, with Shekarau emerging as a key target.
Sources told News Point Nigeria that the governor recently held a closed-door meeting with Shekarau in Abuja, in what insiders described as part of ongoing efforts to persuade the former governor to return to the APC.
A source close to Shekarau confirmed the meeting, noting that it forms part of broader consultations aimed at realigning political forces in Kano.
The meeting was also attended by the Kano State APC Chairman, Umar Haruna Doguwa, underscoring its significance within party circles.
Shekarau, a two-term former governor, a former senator and former Minister of Education, remains a highly influential figure in Kano politics and within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he is regarded as an elder statesman.
His potential defection is widely seen as a possible game-changer that could reshape alliances and electoral calculations in the state.
The former governor had recently hinted at the possibility of leaving the PDP, though he ruled out joining the ADC, further fuelling speculation about his next political move.
Governor Yusuf’s outreach is believed to be part of a broader strategy to secure his political future and strengthen his chances of re-election in 2027.
Upon returning from Abuja, the governor reportedly sent a strong message to the ADC camp, declaring that the party would not be able to secure victory in Kano.
While Shekarau has yet to publicly declare his next move, insiders suggest that negotiations remain ongoing, with the possibility of his return to the APC still on the table.