The State of the APC in Kano: A Post-Election Analysis
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is the ruling party at the national level, and an opposition party in Kano state. Before the 2023 general elections in Kano, the party was under the influence of its leadership. During this time, the party’s elders were seen as political saviors, navigating the challenges of the political landscape.
Both the leadership and the followers played significant roles in shaping the party’s direction after the election period. Their actions and inactions created new norms and realities within the party, leading to a deeper understanding of life post-election. The disfigured nature of the APC in Kano, with its diluted structure, forced members and supporters to describe their experiences as “children of necessity.”
Some positions taken by the leadership and elders during pre-election, election, and post-election periods were viewed as self-styled decisions. This perception was shared by some observers. In the pre-election period, figures like Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila, Hon Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, and Barrister Haruna Isa Dederi had more insight into these dynamics. Whether the treatment and design during that time were dicey or not, only these individuals could provide precise explanations. They were, in a way, victims of the situation.
His Excellency the then Deputy Governor, and 2023 Gubernatorial candidate, His Excellency Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, along with his running mate His Excellency Murtala Sule Garo, could offer a clearer account of what transpired among leaders and elders during the election period. This included aspects of pre-election engagement. Especially when they reflect on the role of the then Governor of Kaduna state during the proper election period up to the announcement of the results.
During the post-election period, some decisions made by both the leadership and followers could be better described as indecision. Looking at the consequences that emerged from within, it’s clear that while the leadership and elders focused on promoting party cohesion, the followers were engaged in internal conflicts, chanting praises and condemnations against each other within the same APC in the state.
Without the support, either directly or indirectly, of some sections of the leadership and elders, such divided stances wouldn’t have been so pronounced and entrenched within the fabric of the party. In clearer terms, some of the leaders and elders have never been genuine in their calls for a united party.
Part of the reasons that prompted genuine party members like Hon Sabi’u Barista Baburi to openly condemn the actions of some of our leaders and elders.
What is fascinating is the fact that some prominent leaders within the higher echelons of the party are always active in directing their followers, genuine and pretenders, to prioritize unity. For example, three gentlemen stand out in this area: His Excellency Distinguished Senator Barau I Jibrin, Deputy Senate President; His Excellency Murtala Sule Garo, former Deputy Gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election; and His Excellency Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, former Gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election.
For each of them, there are concrete examples that none of them want to see the disintegration of the party. They love the party and work in line with their convictions. To call a spade a spade, I haven’t met anyone who claims that Senator Barau gave a marching order for his people to castigate any party member, leader, or follower. The same applies to both Garo and Gawuna. All three are reserved, humble, receptive, strategic, and deeply believe in the party’s hegemony.
Many times, when troublemakers report any ploy against Barau, either true or false, to his ears, he responds with, “Don’t mind, these are all political engagements. Just go and work for the party. We don’t have time to waste.” Some around him even blame him for being too lenient toward his detractors. This is my honest understanding of him.
For Garo, after dismissing such backbiting behaviors, he will tell you to your face, “Malam, go and work for the survival of the party. What binds us all is the party. So please go and concentrate on party activities.”
I still remember vividly when an association was floated within the party and such a move was reported to Garo at the formative stage of the group, informing him that this group was in place not for the integration of the party but for campaigning in favor of someone against 2027. He outrightly discouraged and dismissed the rumor mongers with this simple statement, “Since they are working for the party, there is no point in rejecting their efforts. No matter what.”
In the pre-election period, during one of the stakeholders’ meetings held at Africa House, Government House, Kano, Gawuna addressed the faces of all present, including the then Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, saying, “There are people coming to tell me many things about others in this great party. I’m warning for the last time, if they didn’t stop, I will start exposing them one after the other immediately.” It is evident that Gawuna faced such divide-and-get-influence tactics, possibly from some sections of the leadership or elders or followership or a mixture of all.
It was very glaring in the pre-election period when the Gawuna-Garo ticket was the talk of the town, there were supporters of both sides of the coin, meaning from Gawuna side and Garo side. Some of their supporters were busy castigating each other’s boss, as if the political marriage was forced on them all.
It was easy for Gawuna supporters (some of them), either as kitchen cabinet or mere well wishers, to see them condemning Garo for reasons best known to them. The same thing applied to Garo’s side. But what was interesting at the time was that neither of the candidates, Gawuna nor Garo, was seen clearly supporting such erring and derailing supporters.
What put such people to shame was the kind of respect and consideration Garo shows to Gawuna. From day one to date. Some people from the party went to the extent that they were happy that APC didn’t make it at the Supreme Court. Their reason? Had it been APC emerged victorious at the Supreme Court in 2023, Garo would have been sidelined since by now. This is their understanding of it. To me, this is hallucinations in its best form. It is even very pathetic and annoying to think in this direction.
To me, Senator Barau’s domineering influence and exposure in national politics call for his relevance at the national level come 2027. This is just my personal opinion. Let APC, not Kano APC alone, work for Barau, lobby on his behalf, for a position closer to the corridor of power, at the higher level, not state. It should be an elective position, anyway. His pedigree, expertise in governance, experience and knowledge of global political arrangement, set him above his contemporaries.
For the Gawuna-Garo ticket, it can still be maintained and it can try frontside-backside switchover, depending on the situation and circumstance. The way I see it is, there are people disguising as genuine in the chemistry of APC in Kano, but they are nothing but fake, fake, and fake!
The way I see it is this, at the instance of leadership failure to mend fences within the party, I suggest other groups should wade in, in earnest and save the situation. Groups like past local government chairmen of the APC, under the aegis of their association, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). They are still in touch with the grassroot.
We have a pool of legal luminaries, among them are Senior Advocates of Nigeria, retired Judges and Magistrates, etc., let’s leverage on that and put things in proper perspective. If all-politicians strategy is sending the party to ditches, let’s try a mixture of politicians and professionals to reach the promised land.
What is more attractive and fragile is the issue of who becomes what in the forthcoming 2027 elections. Especially that of gubernatorial candidate. Yes, consensus is allowed in politics. But race is also a significant pillar in politics. Whatever consensus the party is interested in, it must be honest, patriotic with full-fledged integrity. There is no harm in conducting primary elections of all positions.
It is also the sole responsibility of the party and logic to either go my way of thinking, in terms of gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidature come 2027, or another workable and feasible arrangement can come up and play magic. Among Barau, Gawuna and Garo, they may have things or features in common. And each one of them has his peculiarities. This is my firm belief and conviction. And I don’t blame anybody for anything if he or she has a counter position.
My advice also to leaders is, let us not witness the same situation as when Senator Kawu Sumaila, Rep Kabiru Rurum, and others, were forced out of the party in the name of consensus or party arrangement. Whatever arrangement or consensus is opted for, it should be with honesty, integrity, absolute commitment to truth and maturity. Anything below this, is negation to party survival and enhancement process.
What is more disheartening is this, that among leaders and elders of the party, keeping the party in disarray is more profitable to them than peaceful assembly. Very disheartening and ridiculous!
For instance, what is the benefit and importance of forwarding arguments of who is APC leader in Kano? When late President Muhammadu Buhari was alive and in control as the President, still at that time, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was seen, regarded and accepted as the Leader of the party. What position in our constitution that is above being President? So even President then was not regarded as the Leader. It was Tinubu who was regarded as such.
What then is the problem in this needless argument of between Ganduje and Barau who is the leader of APC in Kano? If Tinubu could be leader above Buhari, then what is the problem of Ganduje being a leader above Barau? This unnecessary and needless argument, is not doing any good for the party. This, is just standing logic on its head.
For Barau, Ganduje is still a leader in Kano APC. Can’t you see the kind of respect accorded to Ganduje by Barau whenever they meet, either in private or in the public? So of what benefit is the argument searching for who is a leader between the duo? Is very unnecessary, crafty and ill-intentioned.
Attention should not be restricted to who is the leader and who is the follower. If we are genuine, honest and committed, this sort of debate is waste of time and energy. What we are after now is, who does what in repositioning the party in Kano?
If politics is an art then Barau is one of the finest artists. But this is not our concern now. Our concern is how do we reposition the party in Kano. When issues are not handled properly, we will be left with the confusion of not knowing who is home and dry among all.
Attention to detail is my last statement.
