Following the resignation of the erstwhile Deputy Governor of Kano state, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar on Sunday, political observers have identified candidates who may likely replace him.
Sources close to the Kano State Government House, disclosed that so far, about five contestants are in the forefront of the race to become the next Deputy Governor.
Prominent among them, according to our investigation, include:
Nasir Yusuf Gawuna
Mr Gawuna is the commissioner of Agriculture in the state. He is equally from the Kano Central from where the erstwhile deputy emanated.
Mr Gawuna is a grassroots politician who was once touted to be the running mate of Mr Ganduje, before the power brokers settled for Hafiz Abubakar.
In late 2017, sources said he was handpicked by President Muhammadu Buhari to be made a Minister from Kano, in view of his long standing relationship with the president. But the move did not come to fruition as the president shelved plans to reshuffle cabinet.
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He recently declared his intention to contest for the seat of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the governor’s arch-rival.
Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila
Mr Sumaila is a Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on the National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives).
His major strength is that he is equally coming from a different senatorial district with Mr Ganduje and a great loyalist of the governor.
Mr Sumaila had also declared his intention to contest for the seat of Senator Kabiru Gaya, another greatest loyalist of Mr Ganduje.
It is gathered that the governor may opt for Mr Sumaila in order to end the ensuing political impasse between his two loyalists.
However, his greatest undoing might be his highhandedness which the governor might consider too hard for him to control.
Muhammad Garba
Mr Garba is the incumbent Commissioner for Information and a one-time National president of the NUJ. He is, no doubt, an age-long ally of Mr Ganduje, who hails from Kano Central, the same constituency with the former Deputy Governor.
He has been in politics with the governor and had ever served the governor as his Press Secretary when he was a deputy governor between 1999 and 2003.
With that, it is believed that Mr Garba has been incorporated into the kitchen cabinet of Mr Ganduje. He has, as well, been very vocal and critical of Mr Kwankwaso.
Murtala Sule Garo
Mr Garo is a Commissioner for Local Government. He is seen as a confidant of Mr Ganduje for having been one of the signatories to the accounts of local governments in the state.
Besides, the commissioner, who is under 40 years of age, is a grassroots mobiliser.
The major obstacle for him, however, is the fact that he is believed to be from the Kano North where the governor hails from. The fact that he is a resident of Kano Central, may be an advantage if the power brokers chose to alter the political equations.
Observers believe another challenge he may face is the fact that is that he is not educated enough to withstand the challenges of the office of a deputy governor.
Abdullahi Abbas
Mr Abbas is the current chairman of the APC, Kano chapter. He hails from Gwale, Kano Central, and is the most ranking politician in the senatorial zone.
Another plus to him is that the former deputy governor is from Gwale.
Mr Abbas is a staunch supporter of Mr Ganduje and had exhibited unrelenting support for the governor.
With a certificate in library management, observers believe the Kano prince is barely educated enough to withstand the pressures of the office.
