Published by Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress has thrown the Kano North Senatorial District race into a new political gear by replacing its earlier candidate with former House of Representatives member Nasiru Sule Garo, the brother of Kano State Deputy Governor Murtala Sule Garo, to challenge the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, in the 2027 general elections. The party announced the change on Friday, August 21, 2026, dropping Sunusi Usman Dambatta, who had earlier been identified as its candidate for the district, and endorsing Garo at a political gathering in Bichi, Kano State, where party members and supporters rallied behind the new flag bearer. The decision effectively alters the NDC's previously announced arrangement for Kano State's three senatorial districts, introducing a fresh dynamic to the party's preparations for what is expected to be a fiercely contested election, with the brother of the state's second-in-command now positioned to take on the number two citizen of the National Assembly.
Nasiru Sule Garo, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented the Gwarzo/Kabo Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, brings considerable political experience to the contest. However, his emergence as the NDC candidate carries even more significant political weight because he is the brother of Deputy Governor Murtala Sule Garo, giving the candidate an established connection to one of the most influential political structures in Kano State. This familial link to the state's number two citizen could prove decisive in mobilising support across the 13 local government areas that make up the Kano North Senatorial District, including Bagwai, Bichi, Dambatta, Dawakin Tofa, Gabasawa, Gwarzo, Kabo, Karaye, Kunchi, Makoda, Rimin Gado, Shanono and Tofa. The brother factor adds a layer of complexity to the contest, as it pits the family of the deputy governor against the political machinery of the Deputy Senate President, creating a high-stakes battle that transcends ordinary political rivalry.
The race in Kano North is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched senatorial contests in the country, pitting the number two citizen of the Senate against the brother of the state's deputy governor. Senator Barau Jibrin, who has emerged as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the district following a unanimous endorsement by party faithful at the APC headquarters in Bichi Local Government Area on May 18, 2026, is seeking re-election to the Senate. The Deputy Senate President's campaign has already garnered significant momentum, with former Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Mohammed Gwarzo, having withdrawn from the race to endorse Barau as the consensus candidate for the district. Now, Barau faces a challenge not just from any opponent, but from a candidate with the backing of his brother's political network, a development that could potentially fracture the political landscape in Kano North.
Garo's candidacy comes against the backdrop of broader political realignments within Kano ahead of the 2027 elections. The NDC has attracted political figures and supporters associated with different political tendencies in the state, creating both opportunities and internal challenges for the emerging party. The decision to field the brother of the deputy governor signals a strategic move by the NDC to leverage the Garo family's political capital and challenge the dominance of the APC and the Deputy Senate President in the district. Recent developments within the Kano chapter of the party have reportedly been characterised by disagreements over the distribution of tickets and the influence of different political blocs involved in the party's emerging structure, but the endorsement of Garo suggests that the party has settled on a candidate capable of mounting a serious challenge to the Senate's number two.
For Garo, the immediate challenge will be to consolidate the support of party members and build a campaign structure capable of competing effectively across the 13 local government areas that make up the senatorial district, while leveraging his brother's network and political influence. His previous experience at the federal level could provide him with political exposure as he seeks to secure the NDC ticket and subsequently challenge candidates fielded by the established political parties. The development also puts the Kano North senatorial contest on a new footing, with political attention now expected to focus on Garo's campaign, the reaction of rival parties and whether the NDC can translate its emerging political alliances into electoral support. The brother factor adds a dramatic element to the contest, as it pits family ties against political power in what promises to be a fiercely fought battle.
The NDC's decision to field Garo against the Deputy Senate President represents a significant gamble for the party, which is seeking to establish itself as a formidable political force in Kano State. The party has already attracted other high-profile candidates in the state, including former Deputy Governor Nasiru Gawuna, who is contesting for the Kano Central senatorial seat on the NDC platform. With the 2027 elections approaching, the latest candidate change further highlights the fluid nature of political alignments in Kano State, where parties are increasingly reviewing their strategies and candidates as they prepare for what is expected to be a closely contested election. The NDC will now have to formally communicate and process the change, while Garo begins the task of convincing voters in Kano North that he is the candidate capable of unseating one of the most powerful politicians in the National Assembly. As the brother of the deputy governor, he carries not just his own political ambition but also the weight of his family's political legacy, a factor that could either propel him to victory or become a target for his opponents.
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