NDC: Kwankwaso’s son emerges Kano deputy gov’ship candidate

By Musa Baba Adamu with agency report

The political influence of the Kwankwaso family within the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has received a significant boost with the emergence of Mustapha Kwankwaso as the party’s deputy governorship candidate in Kano State for the 2027 elections.
Mustapha, son of the NDC’s vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was unveiled as the running mate to the party’s governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo.
The announcement was confirmed on Monday by Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya movement, who disclosed that Gwarzo formally presented Mustapha as his deputy ahead of the forthcoming governorship contest.
The development further strengthens the presence of the Kwankwaso political bloc within the NDC, where the former Kano State governor has emerged as one of the party’s most influential figures following recent political realignments.
Political observers are likely to view the nomination as a strategic move aimed at consolidating support among Kwankwasiyya loyalists and mobilising grassroots structures across Kano State, a key battleground in Nigeria’s electoral politics.
Mustapha’s selection also places him at the centre of what is expected to be an intense contest for control of Kano State in 2027, as political parties continue to finalise their tickets and campaign structures ahead of the election season.
With Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso occupying a prominent position on the NDC’s national ticket and his son now joining the Kano governorship race, the party appears determined to leverage the widespread influence of the Kwankwasiyya movement in its bid to secure electoral victories at both the state and national levels.
The announcement marks another major step in the evolving political landscape ahead of 2027, as parties seek to strengthen alliances and position trusted political figures for key elective offices.