By Gloria Drealomalicha
Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State, has selected Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, son of the party’s vice-presidential candidate, as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
The announcement was confirmed on Monday by Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson for the Kwankwasiyya movement, in a brief statement.
“His Excellency Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo unveiled Hon. Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election,” Mohammed stated.
The development was also confirmed by Saifullahi Hassan, media aide to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, in a post on X.
“Congratulations to H.E. Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso on his emergence as the NDC deputy governorship candidate,” Hassan wrote.
The ticket brings together two former members of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration. Gwarzo served as Deputy Governor of Kano State, while Mustapha Kwankwaso held the position of Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development.
Both men resigned from the Yusuf administration amid growing tensions and a deteriorating relationship between Governor Yusuf and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the influential political leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement.
Mustapha’s emergence as running mate further strengthens the Kwankwaso family’s influence within the NDC, where the former Kano governor now serves as the party’s vice-presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 general election.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso joined the NDC on 3 May alongside former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, after leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Gwarzo followed suit a month later, defecting from the ADC to the NDC before securing the party’s governorship ticket on 29 May.
The latest development signals the party’s efforts to consolidate its political structure in Kano as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.
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