Hanga Defects to APC, Giving Ruling Party Full Control of Kano Senate Seats
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Grace Chidimma Ibe
KANO, KANO STATE — Senator Rufa’i Sani Hanga, representing Kano Central Senatorial District, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending the opposition’s representation of Kano State in the Senate.
Hanga, who previously belonged to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), formally joined the ruling party on Saturday, September 5, 2026, alongside other political leaders and supporters at an APC mega rally held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
His defection means the APC now controls all three senatorial seats in Kano State. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin represents Kano North, while Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila represents Kano South. With Hanga’s move, the opposition no longer has a serving senator from the state.
The development marks a significant shift in Kano’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections and further strengthens the APC’s position in the state.
Hanga was among the prominent political figures who had remained outside the ruling party despite a series of defections by political leaders and lawmakers in Kano. He had earlier resigned from the NDC in August after months of speculation over his political future. At the time, he did not disclose his next political destination.
His eventual movement to the APC followed weeks of political consultations and meetings with senior members of the ruling party. In July, Hanga had met with APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin amid growing speculation that he was considering joining the party.
The senator was received into the APC alongside Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda and other party leaders.
The rally also featured the unveiling of a Tinubu Support Group, a political structure established to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027. Reports said about 136,000 supporters joined the APC alongside the defecting political leaders.
Hanga’s defection is expected to have implications for the political strength of the opposition in Kano, particularly as political parties prepare for the 2027 elections.
The development also comes against the backdrop of a broader realignment of political forces in Kano. Governor Abba Yusuf had earlier moved into the APC, while several members of the National Assembly and other political actors from the state have also joined the ruling party.
The APC has welcomed the growing number of political figures joining its fold, describing the development as evidence of increasing acceptance of the party’s platform and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
For Hanga, the move represents another major turn in a political career that has included membership of different political platforms. Before joining the NDC, he was elected on the platform of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and was regarded as a prominent figure within the Kwankwasiyya political movement.
His departure from the opposition has also generated reactions among political observers, with supporters of the opposition expressing concern over the loss of its remaining senatorial voice in Kano.
The APC’s control of all three Kano senatorial districts gives the ruling party a stronger institutional presence in the state as preparations for the 2027 elections intensify.
The political realignment is expected to remain a major feature of Kano politics in the months ahead, particularly as parties position themselves for the next general election.
News Background Location: Kano State, North-West Nigeria.
