The attendance of All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, and Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, at private events hosted by an opposition senator in Kano has generated controversy.
Senator Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South under the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), had left the APC before the 2023 elections due to internal party disputes.
In a statement on Friday, Jibrin confirmed that he led a delegation of federal lawmakers to attend the wedding ceremonies of Sumaila’s children.
“Today, February 21, I led the Senate delegation to the wedding of Senator Sulaiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila’s and Alhaji Abdulmanaf Yunusa Sarina’s children in Sumaila town, Kano State,” he announced.
He further explained that the unions involved Dr. Khadija Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila and Faisal Abdulmanaf Sarina, as well as Maryam Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila and Bello Ibrahim Ma’aji. The ceremonies were officiated by Professor Salisu Shehu, Imam of Sumaila Jumaat Mosque.
“Our party’s National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, CFR, was also in attendance. May Allah bless the newlyweds with patience, love, and understanding. Congratulations to the couples,” Jibrin added.
On the following day, Ganduje and Jibrin were also present at the first convocation ceremony of Al-Istiqama University, a private institution reportedly founded by Sumaila in Sumaila Local Government Area of Kano State.
Their participation in these events has stirred concerns within the NNPP, particularly on social media, leading to speculation that Sumaila may be considering a return to the APC.
Many party supporters questioned why he engaged with opposition figures, including former Kano governor Ibrahim Shekarau of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while seemingly sidelining Governor Abba Yusuf and NNPP leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Attempts to get Sumaila’s response were unsuccessful as his phone was unreachable on Saturday evening.
Sumaila and some NNPP lawmakers from Kano South had 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.
They had opposed the move to dissolve the four additional emirates created by former Governor Ganduje, arguing that abolishing all five emirates was not in the best interest of their constituents.
Since then, Sumaila and some of his colleagues have distanced themselves from the NNPP-led state administration.
If Sumaila decides to rejoin the APC, he would be the latest in a series of opposition lawmakers defecting to the ruling party.
The NNPP, currently the fourth-largest political party in Nigeria by parliamentary representation, holds Kano as its stronghold, being the only state it governs.
Its 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, secured his only major electoral victory in Kano State, finishing fourth overall in the race.
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