Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has hinted at a possible political thaw with the national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, saying he remains open to reconciliation despite years of rivalry that reshaped Kano politics.
Ganduje, a two-term governor of Kano State, spoke in a BBC interview against the backdrop of major political realignments in the state following the reported defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from the NNPP to the ruling APC. The development has triggered intense debate and speculation about shifting alliances ahead of future elections.
The former APC chairman said reconciliation should never be ruled out, stressing that politics ought not to permanently damage long-standing personal relationships. He described Kwankwaso as a brother and long-time associate, noting that disagreements, whether political or personal, should not close the door to future understanding.
“As a Muslim, is there anyone you would say you cannot reconcile with? It is politics. We hope that in the future we can reconcile completely because we have been together in politics for a long time and we are brothers,” Ganduje said.
Reacting to Governor Yusuf’s defection, Ganduje expressed satisfaction with the move, describing it as a positive development for both the APC and the governor. He said the party was comfortable with the new alignment and disclosed that party leadership structures, from the ward level to the national secretariat, were temporary and would soon be reorganised in line with evolving political realities.
He added that time would ultimately determine how interests are balanced within the party, insisting that internal disputes had been resolved and that attention was now focused on governance and development in Kano State.
According to Ganduje, the performance of the current administration is a shared responsibility of all party stakeholders, warning that success or failure would affect everyone involved.
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“If the government succeeds, we all succeed. If it fails, we all fail. So we must support the government to deliver on its mandate,” he said.
Addressing speculation over an alleged 60–40 power-sharing deal said to have been offered to Governor Yusuf, Ganduje dismissed the claims, saying neither he nor the party leadership had received any official communication on such an arrangement.
He maintained that the APC’s overriding priority is effective governance and policies that directly improve the welfare of the people, particularly the poor, as Kano navigates a new and uncertain political phase.
