The political rivalry between Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has continued to shape the dynamics of Kano State and national politics.
Once close allies under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), their relationship has since devolved into one of Nigeria’s most watched political feuds.
Kwankwaso served as Governor of Kano State from 1999 to 2003 and returned for a second term from 2011 to 2015, with Ganduje as his deputy during the latter stint.
However, their alliance fractured after Ganduje succeeded Kwankwaso in 2015 under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). What began as a political handover soon spiraled into a fierce contest for control of Kano’s political machinery.
Their rivalry intensified over the years, marked by high-profile clashes and policy reversals.
One of the most notable flashpoints came in 2020 when Ganduje, then governor, deposed the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, an influential traditional ruler widely regarded as a Kwankwaso loyalist. The move deepened political tensions in the state and was viewed by many as a direct jab at Kwankwaso’s legacy.
However, in a dramatic political twist, Emir Sanusi was reinstated on May 23, 2024, by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, a staunch Kwankwaso ally elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The reinstatement further signaled Kwankwaso’s growing influence in Kano, even as Ganduje held the national chairmanship of the APC at the time.
Ganduje, who was elected APC National Chairman in August 2023, resigned from the role on Friday, citing health reasons.
However, many political watchers believe the real trigger may be Kwankwaso’s reported plan to defect to the APC, a move that would likely shift the balance of power within the ruling party and rekindle tensions between the two Kano strongmen.
