NDC fields new Kano South Senatorial candidate, sidelines Kabiru Gaya amid party realignments

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has announced a fresh senatorial candidate for Kano South District, effectively sidelining former senator Kabiru Gaya, who recently joined the party with expectations of contesting a return to the National Assembly.

Gaya had resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) on 5 April before aligning with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and later joining the NDC alongside former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, signalling a major political realignment in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.

Following the development, the former lawmaker, who previously represented Kano South in the Senate between 2015 and 2023, reportedly saw his return ambition halted after the party adopted Kassim Batayya as its consensus candidate.

The decision was reached during a stakeholders’ meeting held at Kwankwaso’s Miller Road residence, where Batayya was formally endorsed as the party’s preferred candidate.

Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, confirmed the outcome in a social media post and also shared footage showing Gaya endorsing the consensus arrangement, although Gaya noted in the video that he was not present when the decision was made.

Mr Gaya, a veteran politician who also briefly served as Kano governor during the Third Republic (1992–1993), had earlier represented Kano South before losing his seat in 2023 to Kawu Sumaila, who has since defected from the NNPP to the APC and secured a nomination for the 2027 elections.

The NDC in Kano is currently holding its primary congresses for Senate, House of Representatives, and State Assembly positions as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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