The 2027 general elections in Kano will once again test the political strength of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leading figure, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the immediate past National Chairman of the APC and Chairperson of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Twice elected governor of Kano, Ganduje weathered the height of opposition politics, consolidated his base despite defections, and built a strong network of loyalists across all 44 local government areas. His experience in grassroots mobilisation and empowerment projects continues to resonate, making him central to APC’s prospects in the state.
Unlike the APC, which is guided by collective leadership and a pool of experienced politicians, Kwankwasiyya revolves almost entirely around one individual, a “Mr. Know All Commands” structure where loyalty is tied not to ideas or collective strength, but to personal directives. This makes it more fragile than it appears. In contrast, the APC today has within its fold an array of leaders with proven political weight, Dr. Ganduje, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, long-serving legislators, influential grassroots mobilisers, retired public servants and local government stalwarts. Their collective experience, if well-coordinated, gives the APC an edge that Kwankwasiyya cannot easily match.
For the APC, the road to victory lies in rebuilding confidence at the grassroots, where elections are truly won. The party has the structures, the membership, and the leadership capacity, but these must be coordinated into a more disciplined and people-driven system. Rather than being distracted by opposition propaganda, the APC must leverage Ganduje’s wide political network, strengthen internal unity, and re-establish its dominance at ward and local government levels. The challenge is not a lack of numbers, but a need to organise and direct those numbers effectively.
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If the APC is to have a fighting chance, the rebuilding process must begin immediately. Grassroots structures must be reorganised, young loyalists rewarded with opportunities, and party officials must stay closer to the people. Political appointees and elected representatives cannot afford to prioritise defectors over those who have kept faith with the party from the beginning. APC political appointees from Kano today, must also recalibrate their empowerment projects, making them sharper, more targeted, and party-focused. Other stakeholders must put aside the politics of entitlement and open up the party to transparent processes. The era of “unity lists” imposed from above can no longer inspire confidence if the APC hopes to energise its base.
At the centre of this challenge is Dr. Ganduje, whose political compass may well shape Kano’s direction in 2027. His ability to bridge the divide between elders and youth, mediate among factions, and rally national support makes him indispensable in the struggle ahead. For Kano voters, the coming election will not be about who gives commands from the top or who dominates the streets, but about who can mobilise a united political structure, connect with the people’s aspirations, and speak the language of governance rather than agitation.
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If Ganduje’s experience is harnessed and his advice taken seriously, the APC has a chance to turn the tide. By building on merit, inclusivity, and discipline, the party could consign Kwankwasiyya to history, remembered only as a case study for political science students at Mambayya House. But if the current disorganisation continues, then the APC may find itself unknowingly strengthening the very movement it seeks to defeat.
The journey to 2027 begins now, and in Kano, all eyes are once again on Dr. Ganduje.
Umar Idris Shuaibu writes from Kano.
