Minister Vows To Secure APC Victory In Kano For 2027 Elections

Yusuf Ata, the newly appointed Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, has openly stated his commitment to reclaiming Kano State for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections. Speaking in Kano shortly after his swearing-in, Ata emphasized that his appointment is politically driven and aimed at strengthening the APC’s presence in the state. “My mission, like I said, is purely political. Even though I am posted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, I will be coming to Kano State every week to work towards gaining control of the state,” Ata declared. He thanked President Bola Tinubu for the appointment and promised that Kano would be back under APC control by 2027.

Ata’s appointment follows a recent cabinet reshuffle in which the President replaced Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, the former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, along with four other ministers. Gwarzo has voiced disapproval of Ata’s selection, calling it a “wrong political decision” and arguing that the position should have gone to Nasiru Gawuna, APC’s 2023 governorship candidate for Kano. In a recent BBC Hausa interview, Gwarzo expressed surprise at his removal, suggesting it was driven by internal party politics rather than poor performance.

Gwarzo further explained that he was informed his removal was due to an imbalance in political representation from Kano North. However, he dismissed this reasoning, suggesting that the move was orchestrated by party insiders. Gwarzo contends that Gawuna, the APC leader in Kano Central, would be a more suitable choice, arguing that his current position does not provide him the resources to maintain his political influence in the region.

Despite his dissatisfaction, Gwarzo has accepted the President’s decision and pledged to support his administration, expressing hopes that APC’s internal decisions will ultimately align to benefit Kano State’s political landscape.