2027 Elections: APC Chairman Visits Emir Sanusi, Seeks Palace Backing in Kano

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has met with the Emir of Kano, Khalifa Muhammadu Sanusi II, in an apparent move to strengthen the party’s position ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Yilwatda led senior members and leaders of the APC in Kano to the Kofar Kudu Palace, where he held a closed-door meeting with Emir Sanusi on Tuesday.

The discussions lasted several hours, although neither the palace nor the party made the details of the meeting public.

A palace source, however, disclosed that the 2027 elections and the APC’s plans to expand its political support in Kano dominated the discussions.

“The national leadership of the APC was here to solicit the palace’s support and endorsement of all APC candidates in Kano. They have realised the dynamics of Kano politics,” the source said.

The source explained that the APC leadership considered Emir Sanusi’s position within the traditional institution and his grassroots reach important to its political mobilisation efforts.

“The APC recognises the influence of Emir Sanusi within the traditional council and the authority he commands at the grassroots in terms of mobilisation and sensitisation on the rights and dignity of the people of Kano,” the source added.

The source further said the meeting showed that the APC leadership understood the emir’s importance in Kano’s political environment.

“I want to believe that the APC is aware of the strength and capacity of the Emir of Kano during the last election, even with a sitting governor. So, the APC National Chairman and the leadership in the state are doing their very best to consolidate their strength through the palace,” the source said.

Reacting to the development, public affairs analyst Usman Usman rejected claims that Yilwatda erred by meeting Emir Sanusi without also visiting the 15th Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero.

According to Usman, the APC chairman’s visit should be understood within the context of the party’s attempt to expand and reinforce its political networks ahead of the 2027 polls.

He nevertheless challenged claims about Aminu Ado Bayero’s alleged political strength, particularly suggestions that his influence could determine electoral outcomes in Kano.

“Political influence is not measured merely by claims of popularity. If an individual is said to command a decisive electoral following, such influence should be demonstrated through observable political outcomes,” Usman said.

The analyst referenced the 2023 Kano governorship election, when Aminu Ado Bayero was widely linked with former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the APC candidate, Nasiru Gawuna.

Usman noted that despite those associations, the APC suffered defeat in the governorship election, including at the polling unit associated with the emir’s palace, and later lost at both the local government and state levels.

“This raises a fundamental question: If Aminu Ado’s political following was as extensive and electorally consequential as the article suggests, where was the evidence of that influence at the ballot box?” he asked.

Usman also maintained that Emir Sanusi had retained substantial public visibility, networks and influence despite being removed by the previous APC-led administration.

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