Seven APC aspirants step down for Shekarau as Kano Central consensus candidate

Seven aspirants vying for the Kano Central Senatorial District ticket under the All Progressives Congress (APC) have withdrawn from the 2027 race and endorsed former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, as the party’s consensus candidate.

The decision followed hours of deliberations at a meeting convened by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the aspirants—Usman Bala Mohammed, Sha’aban Sharada, Muhammad Zango, Danyaro Yakasai, Abbas Abbas, Garba Abubakar, and Shehu Isa Driver—stated that the move was motivated by a desire to foster peace and unity in Kano State.

Usman Bala Mohammed explained that the decision was reached both individually and collectively to ensure the APC’s success at the national, state, and constituency levels.

He said the governor brought all aspirants together for a consensus meeting, and after thorough discussions, they unanimously agreed to back their “elder brother, leader, and former governor, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau,” describing it as being in the best interest of Kano State, the APC, and Nigeria.

Sha’aban Sharada dismissed any claims of coercion, insisting the decision was voluntary and carefully considered.

He said they acted out of respect for the governor and pledged to work together to deliver massive support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Shekarau, and other APC candidates in 2027, adding that Kano would be among the states delivering the strongest backing for the president by election day.

In his remarks, Shekarau commended Governor Yusuf for facilitating the reconciliation and thanked the aspirants for their support.

He promised to embrace everyone, describing the group as now one family, and assured that Kano would deliver for the president, the governor, and all other candidates in 2027.

The development is seen as a major boost for APC unity in Kano ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Governor Yusuf, responding to the outcome, said Kano remains politically united despite its vibrant political environment.

He expressed happiness that the state was now more united, stressing that Kano’s interest comes before any individual. He noted that since rejoining the APC, they have been working toward victory, though it is difficult.

He praised the aspirants’ maturity and genuine concern for the people, expressing confidence that the party would achieve a sweeping victory, with Kano delivering overwhelming support for Tinubu, senators, House of Representatives members, the governor, and State House of Assembly candidates.

Shekarau, who was governor of Kano State from 2003 to 2011 and later served as minister of education from 2014 to 2015, had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in April, announcing his move at his residence in Kano alongside Senator Bello Gwarzo.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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