Deputy Senate President Barau Accused of Forcing Gawuna Out of APC in Kano

Fresh political tension has emerged in Kano State following allegations against Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, over the reported defection of the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2023 governorship candidate, Yusuf Gawuna.

A group within the APC, known as the Emerging Progressives Leaders’ Forum, has openly blamed Barau for Gawuna’s exit from the party.

The former candidate recently moved to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a development that has stirred fresh debates within Kano’s political space.

In a statement released in Abuja on Thursday, and signed by its National Coordinator, Hafiz Idris, the forum accused the Deputy Senate President of sidelining Gawuna after the 2023 election.

The group claimed that after losing the governorship race to Abba Kabir Yusuf, Gawuna was denied key political opportunities that could have kept him active within the APC structure.

The forum said the situation created frustration for Gawuna. It added that the lack of support pushed him to seek relevance elsewhere, eventually leading to his defection to the ADC.

The group also raised concerns over the political future of Gawuna’s former running mate, Murtala Sule Garo.

According to the statement, there are ongoing efforts to block Garo from emerging as the next deputy governor of Kano State. This follows the resignation of Aminu Abdulsalam.

It stressed that Garo had remained loyal to Barau for years. The forum recalled that Garo served as Director-General of Barau’s campaigns in both 2015 and 2019.

It also noted that during the political challenges faced by Barau in 2015, Garo stood firmly with him despite pressure from other quarters.

The group described the alleged move to stop Garo’s emergence as unfair. It warned that such actions could deepen divisions within the APC in Kano and weaken the party ahead of future elections.

Meanwhile, sources within the Kano State Government House indicated that Governor Yusuf has already concluded plans to appoint Garo as deputy governor. The sources said the governor considers him a strong grassroots politician with wide acceptance across the state.

According to insiders, Garo was selected after careful consideration of several candidates. His role as the APC deputy governorship candidate in 2023 was also said to have strengthened his chances.

However, the planned appointment is reportedly facing resistance from powerful political figures outside the state. The forum alleged that Barau is “deeply uncomfortable” with Garo’s possible emergence. It claimed he is working quietly to stop the nomination and is backing another candidate based on political calculations.