The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State is once again engulfed in internal controversy, this time involving the party’s state leadership and one of its key figures in the federal cabinet, Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development.

The dispute stems from Ata’s recent public endorsement of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin as the “most viable candidate” for the APC in the 2027 governorship election in Kano.

Ata insists his remarks were a personal and patriotic assessment. However, the party leadership considers them unguarded, divisive and an attempt to assume the role of the party’s official spokesperson.

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The development has further exposed the longstanding cracks within the Kano APC, which contributed to its defeat in the 2023 elections, raising fresh concerns over party unity, succession planning and the balance of influence between state leaders and federal appointees.

APC issues warning letter to Ata

On November 21, the Kano APC issued a strongly worded warning letter to Ata, signed by its chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Abbas. The letter accused the minister of making “uncomplimentary and derogatory public pronouncements” on internal party matters and warned him to desist or risk disciplinary action.

The letter, which was copied to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the party’s North-West zonal vice chairman, signalled the seriousness with which the issue is being handled.

“Issues relating to party affairs fall strictly within the purview of the APC leadership and its designated spokespersons. You are not assigned a public relations role within the party, and such public comments may be wrongly interpreted as official party positions,” the letter reads in part.

Although Barau was not mentioned directly, the leadership stressed that Ata’s endorsement could fuel misunderstanding and disunity, particularly as the APC works to consolidate ahead of the 2027 elections.

The APC lost Kano in 2023 to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), when Governor Kabir Yusuf, backed by former governor and Kwankwasiyya leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, defeated Ganduje’s former deputy, Nasir Yusuf Gawuna, at the polls.

The Ganduje-led faction is reportedly pushing to reintroduce the Gawuna/Garo ticket for 2027, hoping to secure the federal backing it lacked in the last election.

However, some presidency insiders are said to be favouring another scenario—persuading Governor Yusuf to defect to the APC and receive the automatic governorship ticket for 2027. This would sideline the Ganduje bloc, with Barau more likely to retain his Senate position ahead of a possible governorship bid in 2031.

Ata fires back

In a statement issued by his aide, Seyi Olorunsola, Ata dismissed the warning as an “unnecessary distraction” and reaffirmed his loyalty to both President Tinubu and the APC.

“The Honourable Minister views the decision to draft and circulate such a letter, especially one copied to the president, at a time when Nigeria faces a declared national security emergency, as an unnecessary distraction,” the statement said.

Ata maintained that he acted within his democratic rights and did not intend to bypass party structures, arguing that offering strategic views on the party’s future direction is part of healthy internal discourse.

“If offering a sincere, well-reasoned and patriotic opinion on the future direction of the party ahead of the 2027 elections is what the writers of the letter consider a wrongdoing, then the minister stands ‘guilty as charged’—guilty only of loving his party enough to speak truthfully and strategically at a crucial moment,” he declared.

The letter to Ata came shortly after a four-day strategic meeting held by the Kano APC leadership with party stakeholders across all 44 local government areas—a meeting notably not attended by either Ata or Barau.

Barau-Ata factor

Ata’s endorsement of Barau Jibrin lies at the centre of the controversy. Widely regarded as a strong contender for the 2027 governorship race, Barau enjoys substantial influence in the National Assembly and has notable grassroots connections.

Only last week, some serving and former members of the Kano State House of Assembly also endorsed Barau for 2027.

Describing him as “the strongest and most unifying choice” to help the APC reclaim Government House Kano, Ata said Barau’s candidacy would consolidate the party’s base and attract support across diverse constituencies in the state.

However, critics argue that his public declaration was premature and undermined collective decision-making.

Many party insiders believe Ata owes his ministerial appointment to Barau’s facilitation after the removal of his predecessor, Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo, from Kano. Ata is widely seen as Barau’s protégé and has consistently aligned with him, particularly in internal disputes between the Barau and Ganduje camps.

Ganduje responds with counter-mobilisation

While Ata defended his stance, former Governor Ganduje, widely regarded as the leader of the Kano APC, convened a four-day consultation meeting with party leaders. Held at his residence, the meeting brought together local government party chairmen, caucus members and representatives of party organs.

The consultations focused on strengthening internal cohesion, reaffirming loyalty to President Tinubu and preparing for the 2027 polls. Ganduje disclosed that APC leaders across the state had resolved to publicly endorse Tinubu as the party’s sole presidential candidate for 2027.

“The purpose of this meeting for the last three days has been to ensure complete unity in our party from top to bottom and to reaffirm our solidarity with the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Ganduje said.

He also directed the activation of all APC offices across the 44 LGAs and 484 wards and the deployment of ICT experts to support digital member registration.

The absence of both Barau and Ata during the consultations further fuelled speculation over growing internal divisions.

Analysts: APC move strategic, not personal

Analysts say the crisis reflects deeper tensions within the party. Since 1999, Kano has been a fiercely competitive political arena where individual political weight, ethnic considerations and grassroots mobilisation play decisive roles.

They observed that Ata’s insistence on his right to openly support Barau signals the increasing assertiveness of federal appointees whose influence extends beyond state structures. Conversely, the party leadership’s response underscores its resolve to enforce discipline and maintain central authority.

Political watchers warn that if mishandled, the rift could further weaken the APC ahead of 2027, particularly with opposition parties closely monitoring developments.

President Tinubu’s name looms large in the controversy. By copying him in the warning letter, the Kano APC leadership signalled that Ata’s comments were of national concern. Ata, in turn, cited loyalty to Tinubu to justify his remarks.

Tinubu’s ability to balance competing interests in Kano, one of the party’s largest voting blocs, will be crucial to avoiding wider implications for the APC nationally.

According to Dr Kabiru Sa’id Sufi, a Kano-based political analyst, publicly cautioning Ata was likely a strategic move aimed at appeasing more aggrieved party members.

“Those who were aggrieved by the actions of the minister were more in number than the minister himself, despite his position. So, they decided it was better to rebuke the minister to please the larger part of the people,” Dr Sufi said.

He suggested the leadership may have prioritised internal harmony over individual influence, especially with tensions rising ahead of the 2027 elections.

Dr Sufi also noted that Ata’s response on social media, after allegedly first seeing the letter online, suggested a breakdown in internal communication.

“The letter was not served to him personally. He said he saw it on social media, so he had to respond in the same manner,” he noted.

On the endorsement issue, Dr Sufi said that while Ata’s support does not guarantee Barau the ticket, it was perceived as premature, particularly given that party leaders themselves endorsed Tinubu early for 2027.

“Endorsing one person over others might not really do well for the party. They felt it is a bit too early,” he said.

He added that Ata’s closeness to Barau is well known and unsurprising, but the reaction may be aimed at preserving a level playing field.

‘Crisis could escalate if not properly managed’

While describing the development as “normal politicking,” Dr Sufi warned that if the issue persists, it could lead to a more serious crisis.

“If it continues to linger and expand, then there is every possibility that it may result in a serious crisis for the party,” he cautioned.

However, he said that if handled appropriately, there may be no repercussions for the party in Kano in 2027, describing the situation as politically normal at this stage.