The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has come under scrutiny over reports that the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Abdullahi Waiya, was not included in key party committees and activities.
Traditionally, commissioners for information at the state level and ministers at the federal level handle media engagement and publicity for their governments and political parties. However, it has been alleged that Waiya was excluded from recent high-profile APC committees in Kano.
About three weeks ago, the Kano State chapter of the APC inaugurated an 82-member committee reportedly tasked with formally receiving Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf into the party.
The committee, constituted by the Kano State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, was said to be part of preparations for what party leaders described as a historic political realignment in the state.
The Publicity Committee for the event was reportedly chaired by former Commissioner for Information under the administration of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Mohammed Garba, with Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa serving as secretary.
Similarly, the APC recently announced three high-level committees to oversee its State Congress, scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
According to a statement signed by the party’s spokesperson, Hon. Ahmad Aruwa, the congress will take place at the Indoor Sports Stadium, Kofar Mata, by 8:00 p.m.
“The party leadership has full confidence in the committees’ capacity to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and successful congress,” Aruwa said, adding that the committees were constituted “to ensure a transparent, credible, and well-coordinated congress process in line with the party’s constitution and guidelines.”
The committees reportedly include the Congress and Accreditation Committee, chaired by Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi, with Hon. Muhammad Jamu Yusuf as secretary, and the Publicity Committee, chaired by Mohammed Garba, with Sunusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa as secretary.
Aruwa called on all party members and stakeholders to cooperate with the committees and “conduct themselves in a disciplined and responsible manner throughout the exercise.”
Efforts to reach Commissioner Waiya were reportedly unsuccessful, despite repeated phone calls and messages, as his phone was not reachable.
However, a senior APC official, who spoke with Kano Times on condition of anonymity, dismissed claims of a rift between the party and the commissioner.
“We don’t have any personal issue with Ibrahim Waiya. We consider Mohammed Garba, having chaired the NUJ at the national level and being the most experienced journalist, more qualified than the present commissioner,” the source said.
The official alleged that Waiya had previously been listed as a member of the Publicity Committee during the event to receive Governor Yusuf into the APC, which was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and other party chieftains.
“He reportedly ignored the responsibility assigned to him at the time. The party allegedly submitted its interim report to Governor Yusuf, who was said to be unhappy with Ibrahim Waiya’s action,” the source added.
