The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has made a passionate appeal to the Senator representing Kano Central, Rufai Sani Hanga, and former Governor Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, to reconsider their reported plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party described the potential exit of the two political heavyweights as a “setback” that could undermine its grassroots stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Concerns within the NDC intensified following a high-profile visit by the duo, accompanied by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Sunday. This follows recent visits by the APC National Chairman to the private residences of both Hanga and Gaya.
‘We Are Unsettled’
Speaking to *Daily Trust*, the Kano State Chairman of the NDC, Hussaini Isah Mairiga, admitted the party is uneasy about the unfolding developments.
“The report that the ruling APC is trying by all means to woo Senator Hanga and Senator Gaya is everywhere. While neither has officially confirmed the move to us, their visit to President Tinubu suggests the reports could be true,” Mairiga said.
He urged the chieftains to open a line of communication with the party leadership rather than exiting.
“We value our relationship with them. As leaders, we wouldn’t be happy to lose even an ordinary member, let alone stalwarts of their caliber. We ask them to please have a rethink. If there is any way we have offended them, let us sit down and discuss it,” he added.
The Kwankwaso Factor
The Chairman acknowledged recent friction, noting that Senator Hanga had previously complained of unfair treatment within the NDC. However, he explained that the party’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had deliberately delayed a response to allow tempers to cool.
“Kwankwaso chose not to reply immediately because he felt Hanga was angry at the time. He was waiting for a calmer moment to convene a meeting,” Mairiga explained.
Despite the visible courtship by the APC, the NDC chairman insisted the party still regards the two men as members, characterizing their recent engagements with the presidency as “personal courtesy visits.”
High Stakes for 2027
Political analysts suggest that the departure of Hanga and Gaya would be a structural blow to the NDC and the Kwankwasiyya movement.
Hanga, a veteran strategist, commands significant loyalty in the metropolitan Kano Central district. Gaya, a former four-term senator and former governor, wields immense influence across the traditional and business elites of Kano South.
The loss of these figures would leave the NDC exposed in key battlegrounds and could puncture the narrative of unity and cohesion that the “Red Cap” movement has historically projected.
Analyst’s Warning
Dr. Saidu Ahmad Dukawa, a political analyst and lecturer at Bayero University Kano (BUK), warned that the impact of such defections depends entirely on the “political weight” of the individuals.
“A political party is a collection of people; the higher the number and quality of members, the stronger the party,” Dukawa said. “If people with serious political weight leave, the impact is negative and far-reaching. Given the standing of Hanga and Gaya, their exit would be a significant loss to the NDC’s electoral prospects.”
For the APC, securing the two leaders would further consolidate its gains in Kano, building on the momentum generated by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s strategic alignments earlier this year.
