A member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu will defeat the state’s two-term governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Kano State in the 2027 presidential election.
The representative of Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State said this on a Channels Television programme: “Talking Politics.”
Speaking during the Thursday edition of the programme, Jibrin, previously a political ally of Kwankwaso, but now a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said their knowledge of his political machinery would give them the upper hand at the polls.
Asked if Tinubu can defeat Kwankwaso, the vice presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC) in the 2027 elections, in Kano, he said: “He will because many of us know the dynamics, his strategies, how he operates, the Kwankwasiyya movement, their strengths, their weaknesses, we are all here and we know how we will be able to deal with the that situation.”
While acknowledging that the former Kano State governor is not a pushover, Jibrin said what would make the difference for a Tinubu victory is that Kwankwaso is a running mate and not the presidential candidate.
According to him, the dynamics of the presidential election in Kano State would have been different if Kwankwaso were on the ballot as the presidential candidate.
He said: “We know him very, very well, we know his strategy, he is still influential, he has a supporter base in Kano.
“Whoever tells you he doesn’t have a supporter base is not telling you the truth.
“So, it’s going to be a tough battle.
“I tell you this: there is a difference between Kwankwaso being on the ballot as a presidential candidate and being on the ballot as a running mate.
“There is a sharp difference, they are two completely different things.
“If Kwankwaso were on the ballot as a presidential candidate, the dynamics in Kano might be different, but he is not the presidential candidate.”
On his transition from being an ally of Kwankwaso to becoming his political opponent and working to defeat him, Jibrin said he appreciates the help Kwankwaso has rendered to him politically, but they are now in different parties.
He maintained that his actions do not translate into political disloyalty, saying he would continue to respect Kwankwaso and never join issues with him.
He said: “Of course when I got into politics and by the time I met him, I was modestly okay, I was grounded.
“Of course he gave me a push in politics and I appreciate everything and I have said repeatedly, I will continue to respect him and I will never join issues with him.
“We all changed parties and loyalties, he himself has changed party.”
