Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State, has selected Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate for the 2027 governorship election.
Gatekeepers News reports that Mustapha is the son of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the NDC’s vice-presidential candidate.
The development was confirmed on Monday by Habibu Mohammed, spokesperson for the Kwankwasiyya movement.
“HE Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo unveiled Hon Mustapha Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as running mate for the 2027 Governorship Election,” Mohammed said in a brief statement.
Saifullahi Hassan, media aide to Rabiu Kwankwaso, also confirmed the announcement in a post on X.
“Congratulations!!! H.E. Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, as NDC deputy gubernatorial candidate,” he wrote.
Gwarzo and Mustapha previously served in the administration of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as deputy governor and commissioner for youth and sports development, respectively.
Both men later resigned from the government amid a strained relationship between Yusuf and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Following the political fallout, Kwankwaso joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on May 3 alongside former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, after leaving the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Gwarzo subsequently defected from the ADC to the NDC and emerged as the party’s governorship candidate on May 29.
The selection of Mustapha Kwankwaso is expected to strengthen the party’s campaign structure ahead of the 2027 governorship election in Kano State.
