…Deputy Senate President says time has come to “rescue and restore” Kano
By Mercy Gadia Adi
Over 200 serving and former members of the Kano State House of Assembly have formally endorsed the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, as their preferred candidate for the 2027 governorship election, declaring him the “most marketable” choice for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers, spanning those who served in the Assembly from 1999 to date visited Senator Barau in Abuja in what observers described as the strongest show of political alignment ahead of the election season. The delegation was led by former Speaker Rt. Hon. Abdulaziz G. Gafasa (2007–2011).
Speaking on behalf of the group, Gafasa said their decision was anchored on Barau’s legislative impact and his contributions to the welfare of citizens across the state.
“We are here to tell you that we are solidly behind you for three reasons,” he said. “One, you have positively impacted the lives of our people across the three senatorial districts. Two, you have been a lifeline to our party, APC. Thirdly, you have touched our lives even when some of us are not from your senatorial district. This has made you the most marketable candidate in APC.”
A serving lawmaker, Hon. Garba Yau Gwarmai, representing Ghari/Tsanyawa Constituency, vowed that the group would galvanise grassroots mobilisation for Barau ahead of 2027.
“This endorsement is based on your track record of outstanding service. You have done well in all spheres of our state. This is why we want you to govern Kano, our beloved state,” he said.
Though Senator Barau—who also serves as First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament—has not officially declared his intention to run, the groundswell of endorsements from key APC stakeholders appears to place him at the centre of the party’s emerging political calculations in Kano.
In his response, the Deputy Senate President thanked the lawmakers for their confidence in his leadership and called for unity of purpose in restoring the state to its “glorious days.”
He described the visiting delegation as true grassroots politicians whose support reflects the mood of the people.
“We have to work hard and make sacrifices to restore the glorious days of our state,” Barau said. “It is a thing of joy that you have come together to salvage our state from the ongoing misgovernance. Let us continue to work together to rescue our beloved state.”
He urged them to continue promoting the ideals of the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring that their collective effort would reposition Kano for progress.
The endorsement marks a major shift in Kano’s political landscape and signals the intensification of political alignments ahead of the 2027 polls.