Sunusi Tofa, the Director-General of Media and Publicity at Kano Government House, has made the explosive claim that former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is indirectly working for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tofa made the allegation on Wednesday during an interview on Arise News’ morning show, in response to ongoing political developments and alliances ahead of the next election cycle.
According to him, recent political activities and strategic engagements across the country indicate subtle cooperation between some opposition figures and the ruling All Progressives Congress, with certain political calculations promoted by Kwankwaso ultimately pointing to Tinubu’s second-term ambitions.
The government spokesperson further stated that Governor Abba Yusuf addressed Tinubu about intentions to defect to the APC with Kwankwaso’s approval and that the purported attempt had the support of former Kano State Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo.
Tofa also said that former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi may suffer political limits in Kano due to the state’s conservative political environment.
“Political acceptance in Kano is shaped by ideology, history, and regional considerations,” he said.
He also denied estimates that almost five million supporters attended a recent meeting at Kwankwaso’s mansion in Kano, calling the figure excessively exaggerated.
“Even major public venues in Kano do not have such capacity. Kwankwaso’s residence cannot accommodate more than 2,000 people,” he added.
Attempts to gain responses from Kwankwaso were futile as of the time of reporting this story.
Since the 2023 general elections, the political relationship between Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the present Kano State Government has been one of the most closely followed and hotly fought in Nigerian politics.
Kwankwaso, a former governor, minister of defense, and two-term senator, is still one of the most powerful political figures in the North-West, commanding a devoted following known as the Kwankwasiyya movement, distinguished by their signature red caps.
In 2023, Kwankwaso campaigned for president on the New Nigeria Peoples Party platform, performing well in Kano State but falling short nationally.
His political machine was also generally credited with giving the governorship to Yusuf, who ran on the NNPP ticket and defeated the APC’s nominee.
However, since then, fissures have appeared in Kwankwaso’s and Yusuf’s relationship, with rumors of disagreements over political orientation, appointments, and state management.
