Hanga, Gaya reportedly set to join ruling party ahead of 2027 elections
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has received two prominent chieftains of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Rufai Hanga and Senator Kabiru Gaya, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, amid reports that both politicians are preparing to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The meeting, which took place on Sunday, was reportedly facilitated by Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who led the two Kano politicians to the Presidential Villa.
The development comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum, with politicians across different parties making moves that could reshape political alliances in Kano State and other parts of the country.
Hanga and Gaya are both prominent politicians from Kano State and their reported movement to the APC could attract significant political attention, particularly because of their previous association with the NDC and the political structure linked to former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
According to reports, the two politicians are expected to formally join the APC next week.
Hanga had previously contested for the Kano Central Senatorial ticket under the NDC but reportedly lost the party’s ticket. He was also said to have been considered for the deputy governorship position but did not secure the opportunity.
The former senator is reportedly dissatisfied with developments within the NDC and the failure to secure a political position under the party’s leadership.
Gaya also contested the Kano South Senatorial seat under the NDC but reportedly lost the party’s ticket after a consensus arrangement produced another candidate from Kwankwaso’s political camp.
Their reported decision to leave the NDC therefore comes at a time when political parties are intensifying efforts to strengthen their structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
The development could further strengthen the APC’s political presence in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most politically influential states and a major battleground in national elections.
The reported meeting with President Tinubu is also significant because Kano remains a key state in the political calculations ahead of 2027.
The APC has continued to expand its political network across the country as the ruling party prepares for another election cycle, while opposition parties are also working to consolidate their structures and build alliances.
Before the reported meeting with President Tinubu, APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, had reportedly met with Hanga and Gaya.
The latest development has therefore raised questions about the possibility of a formal defection and the political implications for the NDC in Kano.
Should the two politicians officially join the APC, the move would represent another shift in Kano’s increasingly competitive political environment.
However, their reported defection has not yet been formally announced in the information available at the time of this report.
Political observers will be watching closely for an official declaration and the possible reaction from the NDC and other political groups in Kano.
The development also comes against the background of wider realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential and state elections, with politicians increasingly reviewing their political platforms and alliances as the election season approaches.
For the APC, attracting established political figures from opposition parties could strengthen its grassroots network, particularly in strategically important states such as Kano.
For the NDC, however, the reported departure of Hanga and Gaya could raise questions about the strength and cohesion of its political structure in Kano ahead of the 2027 elections.
The coming days are expected to provide greater clarity on whether the two Kano politicians will formally cross over to the ruling party and what role they may play in the APC’s political calculations ahead of 2027.
