By Ibrahim Muhammad
Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State have endorsed Kabiru Alhassan Rurum as a leading contender for the position of deputy governor, following a high-level meeting convened on Sunday night.
The meeting, attended by prominent party figures including the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin, former governorship candidate Salihu Sagir Takai, and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, produced a shortlist of three nominees for the vacant deputy governorship seat.
The vacancy arose following the resignation of Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo.
The stakeholders said the meeting was held in compliance with a directive from Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who had requested that three names be forwarded for consideration.
They clarified that contrary to circulating reports, details of the meeting had not been manipulated, stressing that the governor’s directive was strictly followed.
According to the stakeholders, the three nominees submitted are Rurum, a former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly and current member of the House of Representatives; Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, former Secretary to the State Government and Managing Director of the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority; and Murtala Sule Garo, a former local government chairman and commissioner.
Rurum’s nomination was moved by the immediate past APC state secretary, Ibrahim Zakari Sarina, and seconded by the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Mariya Mahmud Bunkure.
Similarly, Bichi’s nomination was moved by former APC state chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, and seconded by the deputy state chairman, Salisu Maje Ahmad Gwangwazo.
Garo was nominated by Alhassan Ado Doguwa and seconded by Labaran Abdul Madari.
During the deliberations, Takai and former Secretary to the State Government, Usman Alhaji, advocated for the consideration of Kano South for the position, noting that the zone has not produced either a governor or deputy governor since 1992.
They argued that Kano South, which comprises 16 local government areas and a population exceeding seven million, deserves political inclusion.
The meeting also reflected emerging political alignments within the party, with Rurum reportedly enjoying the backing of key stakeholders including Jibrin, Bunkure, Ata, Sarina, Sha’aban Sharada, Bashir Garba Lado, and Yahuza Ado Yan Kaba, among others.
On the other hand, Garo was said to have secured support from Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Doguwa, Abubakar Bichi, Sani Bala, Hamisu Chidari, Abdullahi M. Gwarzo, Abdullahi Rogo, Yusuf Badau, and Abdulsalam Zaura, among others.
The stakeholders confirmed that the list of nominees has been formally submitted and now awaits the final decision of Governor Yusuf.
