Former Kano Deputy Governor and 2023 APC gubernatorial candidate, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, has reportedly gone off-grid, placing his phone on “Do Not Disturb” (DND), as intense speculation swirls over his planned defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s Kwankwasiyya movement, and possibly the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Reliable sources as reported by daily Nigerian revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed top APC leaders to block Gawuna’s move, fearing his alliance with Kwankwaso could destabilise Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s control ahead of the 2027 elections. Gawuna is said to have travelled to Saudi Arabia for Umrah before proceeding to another North African country for a short vacation.
Political analysts believe Gawuna’s potential defection could completely reshape Kano’s political landscape, given his strong support base among youths, scholars, and traders. His supporters are also complaining of neglect and unpaid entitlements since his 2023 defeat, further fuelling the rumour of his exit from the APC.
The development has thrown the Kano APC into confusion, with some top party figures reportedly sent to persuade him to remain and offered the Kano Central Senatorial ticket for 2027 as an incentive. As of now, Gawuna remains unreachable.
