From Power to Humiliation: How NNPP Shattered APC’s Kano Stronghold

The Fall of a Political Fortress

For years, the Bagwai/Shanono constituency stood as the undisputed crown jewel of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano’s political landscape. This wasn’t just another electoral district—it was an impregnable fortress where opposition parties dared not dream of victory, and where loyalty to the ruling party was considered sacrosanct.

The Pillars of APC’s Dominance

This was the political bedrock that sustained Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin’s influence. The home turf of former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, where Murtala Sule Garo honed his political skills, and where former deputy governor and minister A.T.M. Gwarzo exerted considerable sway. With federal lawmakers like Abba Bichi, Baban Gandu, and Engr. Sani Bala adding to this formidable lineup, Bagwai/Shanono represented the very essence of APC’s political might in northern Kano.

A Political Earthquake

When the late Halilu Ibrahim Kundila, the constituency’s representative until his death in April 2024, passed away, most political observers assumed the subsequent by-election would follow the usual script—another comfortable APC victory. But on Saturday, February 3rd, history took an unexpected turn.

Dr. Ali Kiyawa of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) didn’t just win the Bagwai/Shanono State Assembly seat—he delivered a political masterstroke that shattered APC’s aura of invincibility. The final tally told a shocking story: 16,198 votes for NNPP against APC’s paltry 5,347. A staggering 10,851-vote margin that wasn’t merely a defeat, but a political humiliation.

The People’s Verdict

“This is the home of Barau, Ganduje, and Garo,” an elated NNPP supporter declared, waving the party’s signature red cap in triumph. “If APC can be routed here, then their so-called strongholds elsewhere are already crumbling.”

From Invincibility to Irrelevance

For decades, APC treated Bagwai/Shanono as its personal fiefdom—a showcase of its political dominance in Kano North. Election after election, the party swept through the constituency with arrogant ease, leaving opponents demoralized and resigned to defeat.

But Saturday’s seismic result transformed this political fortress into ruins. The once-mighty APC machine found itself outmaneuvered on its own turf, as voters who had previously shown unwavering loyalty embraced the NNPP’s vision of change under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the Kwankwasiyya movement.

A Stinging Rebuke

The humiliation carries extra sting when considering the political heavyweights involved. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, former APC national chairman Ganduje, and Ganduje’s former strongman Murtala Garo—all with deep roots in the area—proved powerless to stem the NNPP tide.

More Than Just a Lost Seat

For APC, this defeat represents more than the loss of a single assembly seat—it’s a fundamental challenge to the party’s political identity in Kano. To suffer such a comprehensive defeat in what was considered your impregnable stronghold shakes the very foundation of a political organization.

As one political analyst starkly observed: “This wasn’t an election. It was an execution. NNPP buried APC in its own backyard.”

The NNPP Resurgence

For the NNPP, this victory serves as both validation and momentum. The resounding win demonstrates that the Kwankwasiyya movement remains a potent political force under Governor Yusuf’s leadership. The celebratory chants echoing through the constituency—”Kano ta Arewa; daga nan Barau ya fito, amma yau an karya APC!” (Northern Kano; this is Barau’s home, but today APC has been broken!)—captured the historic nature of the moment.

Broader Implications

While APC managed to claim victory in the Ghari/Tsanyawa constituency—a result NNPP has vehemently rejected—the Bagwai/Shanono outcome sends an unmistakable message: APC’s once-iron grip on Kano politics is slipping. The ruling party can no longer take any constituency for granted, even in its traditional strongholds.

Lessons in Political Hubris

This dramatic reversal of fortunes offers several crucial lessons:

• No political dominance lasts forever
• Voter loyalty must be continually earned, not assumed
• Complacency is the enemy of political survival
• Performance ultimately trumps rhetoric

The people of Bagwai/Shanono have delivered a masterclass in political accountability—demonstrating that even the mightiest political machines can be humbled when they take their supporters for granted.

A Watershed Moment

For NNPP, this victory carries profound symbolic weight beyond the numerical result. It proves the party can go toe-to-toe with APC in its heartland and emerge victorious. For APC, Bagwai/Shanono now stands as both warning and wake-up call—a stark reminder that in democracy, no fortress is truly impregnable.

As Kano’s political landscape continues to evolve, one thing has become clear: the era of unchallenged political dominance is ending, replaced by a new paradigm where performance, not pedigree, determines electoral success.

Ibrahim Adam is the Special Adviser to Kano State Governor on Information

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