Newly appointed Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata, has boldly outlined his mission to secure Kano State for the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the 2027 elections. Declaring that his mandate goes beyond his ministerial duties, Ata positioned his role as fundamentally political, aiming to strengthen the APC’s influence in Kano Central, a region he views as essential for the party’s resurgence.
“My appointment was mainly for political reasons,” Ata remarked during his inaugural visit to Kano, where he emphasized that his primary objective would be to re-establish APC control in the state. “Even as a minister, I will continue to be active in this ward; we are going to work very hard to see that APC gains control of Kano State by 2027,” he said, pledging weekly visits to the state to mobilise grassroots support. Expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity, Ata assured him that Kano would return to APC’s fold come 2027.
However, Ata’s appointment has sparked discontent among some APC members, most notably his predecessor Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, who criticised the choice, calling it a misstep for the party’s Kano strategy. Gwarzo, removed in a recent cabinet reshuffle, argued that APC’s former governorship candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, would have been a better choice to galvanize support within the Kano Central senatorial district. In an interview with the BBC Hausa service, Gwarzo questioned the decision, noting that “if it’s true that the ministerial slot is for Kano Central, why not consider Gawuna? His standing could have solidified APC’s structures in the region.”
Gwarzo further contended that his dismissal was unrelated to job performance, claiming it resulted instead from political manoeuvring within the Kano APC ranks. He shared that the President had informed him of the decision to “balance” representation within the state’s senatorial districts, but Gwarzo speculated that “certain people” had influenced this move for political reasons.
Despite his dismay, Gwarzo affirmed his acceptance of the decision, pledging continued support for President Tinubu’s administration. Still, his remarks underscore broader tensions within the APC as it prepares for a crucial contest in Kano—a state it cannot afford to lose again in the run-up to 2027.
