The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, on Sunday held a closed-door meeting with the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, and the senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Rufai Hanga, amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda disclosed the meeting in a statement shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, where he described Hanga as one of the leading figures of the Nigeria Development Congress (NDC) in Kano State.
According to the APC chairman, discussions at the meeting centred on fostering unity, peace and sustained progress in Kano State, as well as the need for political leaders to collaborate in the interest of the people.
“I had the pleasure of meeting with the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, alongside Senator Rufai Hanga, one of the foremost leaders of the NDC in Kano State,” Yilwatda said.
He added that the engagement was marked by “frank, constructive and cordial discussions” focused on strengthening unity and advancing the development of Kano State.
Yilwatda further emphasised the importance of dialogue and cooperation among political leaders, noting that Nigeria’s progress depends on prioritising the collective interest of citizens above partisan considerations.
“As leaders, we have a shared responsibility to encourage dialogue, build consensus where possible and reinforce the foundations of our democracy. Nigeria’s future will be brighter when we place the interests of our people above political divisions and work together for the common good,” he stated.
Although specific details of the discussions were not disclosed, the meeting comes at a time of heightened political activity in Kano State, where alliances and counter-alliances are taking shape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Senator Hanga, currently the only NDC senator from Kano, recently lost his party’s ticket to contest the Kano Central senatorial seat after the NDC nominated former Deputy Governor Nasiru Gawuna as its candidate for the upcoming polls.
The political landscape in Kano has been further reshaped following Governor Abba Yusuf’s defection from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the APC. While several of his supporters joined him in the ruling party, Hanga remained aligned with the faction loyal to Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
That faction later associated with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) before adopting the NDC as its political platform.
The realignments also saw former Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo resign from the Kano State Government to emerge as the NDC governorship candidate, with Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso named as his running mate.
Amid these developments, Hanga has recently voiced concerns over what he described as marginalisation within the NDC following the loss of his senatorial ticket—fueling speculation that he may be reconsidering his political future as the 2027 elections approach.