Conflict in Kano ADC as Two Candidates Fight for Governorship Ticket

The fight over the governorship ticket of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kano State is heating up. Two top aspirants, Ibrahim Khalil and Ibrahim Ali-Amin, also known as Al’amin Little, are both claiming the ticket for the 2027 election.

The national leadership of the party has not yet named the flagbearer. Meanwhile, local party members are taking a strong stand.

On Sunday, some senior members of the party spoke to journalists. This included party elder Sulaiman Mabo, former Kano ADC Chairman Musa Ungogo, and administrative secretary Bala Takai. They were representing the Expanded State Interim Leadership Team (ESILT).

This group rejected claims that the national leadership wants to impose Mr Al’amin as the candidate. They said Mr Khalil won the 22 May primaries with a large margin, getting 55,851 votes while Mr Al’amin received only 4,000 votes.

“The election was clear: there was a definitive winner and a loser,” the group stated. “Our endorsement is not just about the primary results; it is a strategic decision based on Kano’s unique political history and local dynamics.”

The stakeholders praised Mr Khalil for his strong grassroots support. He is a founding member of the ADC in Kano and has a good reputation among women and youth. They see him as a unifier and a respected Islamic cleric.

Some critics have raised concerns about Mr Khalil’s ability to fund a tough campaign. But the stakeholders pointed to Kano's political history for examples. They mentioned former governors Abubakar Rimi, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and Ibrahim Shekarau, who all beat richer candidates.

“If history teaches us anything, it is that Kano’s electorate looks beyond wealth to choose candidates based on character, integrity, and principles,” the group said. They insisted that Mr Khalil’s integrity is his biggest advantage.

The stakeholders warned the national working committee that ignoring the mandate given to Mr Khalil could lead to problems like those seen in the 2011 crisis with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). They said the state chapter would not cooperate with any outside influence that undermines Mr Khalil’s mandate.

In response, Mr Al’amin denied any plans to impose him on the party. He spoke through his aide, Adnan Mukhtar, who said Mr Al’amin is loyal to the party’s leadership. He also claimed to support ongoing talks to build consensus.

However, Mr Mukhtar questioned the legitimacy of those calling themselves Kano ADC stakeholders. He pointed out that a recent Federal High Court ruling led to the dissolution of the state executive committee.

“I want to state categorically that the so-called chairman of the party no longer occupies that position by virtue of a Federal High Court judgment,” Mr Mukhtar’s statement said. He added that the national leadership will set up a caretaker committee after screening aspirants across the country.

Mr Mukhtar also dismissed claims of an official elders committee backing any candidate. He said the national leadership never approved such a group.

He mentioned that both Khalil and Al’amin had attended a consensus meeting in Abuja, where they agreed to respect whatever decision the party’s leadership makes about the 2027 ticket.

“If an election truly took place and Khalil believes in its authenticity, why did he sign a consensus agreement in Abuja?” Mr Mukhtar asked. He urged everyone to wait for the consensus committee's final report.

Both candidates have their strengths. Mr Khalil is a respected Islamic cleric and former Chairman of the Kano Council of Ulama. His political strength comes from moral authority and popular support.

Mr Al’amin is a seasoned politician and businessman. He has been seeking the governorship since the early 2000s and has strong financial and party connections.

The situation in Kano reflects a bigger problem within the ADC nationwide. The National Working Committee (NWC) often prefers wealthy or connected candidates. In contrast, local chapters want to hold direct or indirect primaries to keep their independence.

The stakeholders’ warning about the CPC refers to a well-known event in Kano politics. In 2011, the CPC national leadership ignored a popular candidate in favor of a rich one. This led to mass defections and gave an easy win to Rabiu Kwankwaso of the PDP.

Kano ADC members are warning that repeating this mistake will ruin the party's chances in 2027.