The newly appointed Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, is working to reconcile and reintegrate former members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who joined the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), including figures like Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila and Rep. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum.
Ata outlined his efforts to bring these politicians back to the APC, aiming to strengthen the party’s position in Kano State.
Sumaila, representing Kano South, and Rurum, a former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Kibiya, Rano, and Bunkure federal constituency, left the APC for the NNPP before the 2023 general elections, citing marginalization of Kano South in the APC’s governorship candidate selection.
Their departure, along with other prominent members, bolstered the NNPP’s presence in the region.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Ata highlighted the significance of his appointment for addressing issues within the APC, stating, “When you are given an appointment in government, if you do not know the job, it becomes difficult to deliver.”
Ata noted changes in Kano’s political landscape, with a shift favoring the APC since the new administration took office. “Before, red caps were everywhere, but now it has drastically reduced. Time will tell, but we are strategizing to win the election,” he said, referring to the NNPP’s signature red caps that were common during the elections.
Representing Kano Central, Ata emphasized the need for a balanced political approach across the region, citing the northern part of Kano as an APC stronghold. “The northern Kano area, including figures like Ganduje, Abba Bichi, Murtala, and T. Gwarzo, was the only area where the APC won elections,” he said, underscoring the importance of expanding APC’s influence statewide.
In his plan to reinforce the APC, Ata stressed the need to reach out to influential defectors. “We are bringing in people like Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, Kawu Sumaila, and Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa to help strengthen our efforts,” he added, mentioning Kofa, who also left the APC for the NNPP before the 2023 elections.
Ata also noted that his political role was aimed at securing APC’s future success in Kano. “My primary focus is to deliver Kano for the APC in the 2027 elections,” he told Daily Trust, indicating his commitment to building a stronger base and strategizing for the next electoral cycle.
