President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has subtly reworked his Kano political strategy, opting not to accommodate Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso but to steadily erode his influence.
According to a published report yesterday, sources revealed that the Presidency dropped earlier overtures to the Kwankwasiyya leader after concluding Kano could be won without meeting his “excessive” demands. Instead, strategists advised Tinubu to weaken Kwankwaso’s structure by engaging directly with key power blocs and former allies now back in the APC.
The shift was driven by electoral calculations. In the 2023 governorship poll, the NNPP won with 1,019,602 votes, buoyed by figures like Kawu Sumaila, Alhassan Ado Rurum, AbdulMumin Jibrin Ƙofa and Sagir Ƙoƙi. With these heavyweights returned to the APC, advisers reportedly argued that securing Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf — who controls the state’s executive and grassroots networks — would tilt Kano decisively.
Presidential sources say Tinubu was convinced that once Yusuf is detached from Kwankwaso, the former governor’s political “mystique” would fade. The 2023 presidential results reinforced this view: Kwankwaso polled 997,279 votes, but Tinubu still secured a strong 517,341, suggesting Kwankwaso’s dominance was not unassailable.
Analysts say Tinubu’s approach reflects his reputation for absorbing and neutralising rival power centres. Without executive backing, Kwankwaso is left with symbolism rather than machinery.
In Kano, Tinubu did not confront Kwankwaso directly — he simply targeted the engine that sustained his power.
