Controversy as Ganduje, Jibrin attend opposition senator’s events in Kano

The presence of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, and Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, at the private ceremonies of an opposition senator in Kano has sparked controversy.
Recall that Senator Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), had defected from the APC ahead of the 2023 elections following a prolonged leadership crisis within the party.

In a statement on Friday, Mr. Jibrin confirmed that he led a delegation of federal lawmakers to attend the wedding of Mr. Sumaila’s children.

“Today, (21 February), I led the Senate delegation to the wedding ceremony of Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila’s and Alhaji Abdulmanaf Yunusa Sarina’s children in Sumaila town, Kano State,” he stated.

He further noted that the ceremonies—uniting Dr. Khadija Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila with Faisal Abdulmanaf Sarina, and Maryam Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila with Bello Ibrahim Ma’aji—were officiated by Professor Salisu Shehu, the Imam of Sumaila Jumaat Mosque.

“The National Chairman of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CFR, also attended the wedding. May Allah bless their union and give them patience, endurance, tolerance, and love. Congratulations to the newlyweds,” Mr. Jibrin posted.

On Saturday, both Mr. Jibrin and Mr. Ganduje also attended the first convocation of Al-Istiqama University, a private institution reportedly founded by Mr. Sumaila in Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State.

Their participation in these events has triggered unease within the NNPP, particularly on social media, fueling speculation that Mr. Sumaila may be considering a return to the APC. Party members have questioned why the senator sidelined Governor Abba Yusuf and NNPP leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso while welcoming opposition figures, including former Kano governor Ibrahim Shekarau of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Efforts to reach Mr. Sumaila for comment were unsuccessful, as his known phone number was unreachable on Saturday evening.

Mr. Sumaila and several NNPP lawmakers from Kano South have previously clashed with Governor Yusuf over the reinstatement of deposed Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, and the repeal of the 2019 State Emirate Council Law, which had established five emirate councils. The lawmakers opposed the dissolution of the four emirates created under former Governor Ganduje, arguing that removing all five emirs was against the interests of their constituents.

Since then, Mr. Sumaila and some of his colleagues have distanced themselves from the NNPP-led state government.

If Mr. Sumaila were to defect to the APC, he would join a growing list of opposition lawmakers switching allegiance to the ruling party.

The NNPP, currently Nigeria’s fourth-largest political party by parliamentary representation, has Kano as its stronghold—the only state it governs.

Its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, finished fourth, securing victory only in Kano State.