Governor of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje has endorsed his deputy, Nasiru Gawuna to become the next governor of the state.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the decision was reportedly taken at a recent stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano.
At the stakeholders’ meeting presided over by the Kano governor, Murtala Garo, former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, was reportedly selected to be Gawuna’s running mate in the 2023 governorship election.
Sources revealed that Garo is “believed to have the capacity to deliver votes for the party, considering his influence at local government level”.
Meanwhile, Ganduje is reportedly making plans to obtain the nomination and expression of interest forms to represent Kano north senatorial district.
The Kano north senatorial seat is presently occupied by Barau Jibrin.
Ganduje was deputy governor of Kano to Rabiu Kwankwaso for two terms — 1999 to 2003, and 2011 to 2015 — before he became governor of the state in 2015.
Kwankwaso had endorsed Ganduje to succeed him but the relationship between the two became relatively frosty over the years.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given all political parties June 3, 2022 as deadline to conduct primaries and present candidates for the 2023 elections.