The All Progressives Congress (APC) has intensified efforts to persuade Senator Rufai Hanga to join its ranks ahead of the 2027 general election, as political realignments continue to reshape the landscape in Kano State.
Fresh indications of the ruling party’s interest emerged on Thursday when the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, held a meeting with the senator representing Kano Central.
Hanga is widely regarded as one of the closest political allies of former Kano State Governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, making the meeting a significant development amid growing speculation about his political future.
Although Yilwatda described the engagement as a courtesy visit, political observers believe it underscores the APC’s determination to strengthen its influence in Kano ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the APC National Chairman said discussions focused on issues affecting Kano State, including peace, unity, stability and sustainable development.
He emphasised the importance of constructive engagement among political leaders irrespective of party affiliation, noting that collaboration remained essential to strengthening democracy and advancing national development.
“Nigeria’s progress is best served when we build bridges of understanding, encourage constructive dialogue, and place the welfare of citizens above partisan considerations,” Yilwatda said.
Despite the conciliatory tone of the meeting, the encounter has further fuelled speculation that the ruling party is actively courting Hanga as part of its strategic preparations for the 2027 elections.
The development follows an earlier visit by a delegation of APC leaders in Kano, led by the party’s State Vice Chairman, Salisu Maje Gwangwazo, who reportedly appealed to the senator to defect to the ruling party.
During the visit, the APC delegation was said to have praised Hanga’s political experience and influence, arguing that his contributions had not received adequate recognition despite his years of loyalty to Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya political movement.
Sources familiar with the ongoing consultations indicated that the APC intensified its overtures after Hanga reportedly failed to secure his party’s ticket for another Senate bid in Kano Central.
The senator was also said to have featured prominently in his party’s political calculations ahead of future elections, although those expectations reportedly failed to materialise, further fuelling speculation over a possible change in political allegiance.
Adding to the intrigue, reports recently emerged that photographs associated with the Kwankwasiyya movement, along with Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) insignia, had been removed from Hanga’s office, a development that has sparked widespread speculation about his next political move.
However, neither Senator Hanga nor members of his political team have publicly commented on the reported removal of the images or the growing rumours linking him to the APC.
With political alignments gathering pace ahead of the 2027 general election, observers say Hanga’s next move could have significant implications for the balance of political forces in Kano State, where the APC and the Kwankwasiyya movement remain dominant rivals.
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