The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) Director of New Media and Strategic Communications, Theo Abu Agada has described the planned defection of two of the party’s bigwigs from Kano State, Senators Rufai Hanga and Kabiru Gaya, as “extremely painful.”
The spokesperson made the remark in a post on Monday, a day after President Bola Tinubu received the two politicians at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“This is extremely painful but we move,” the party official wrote on social media.
Hanga and Gaya were accompanied to the Presidential Villa by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, amid reports that they will formally join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) this week.
The visit has intensified speculation over their imminent exit from the NDC. Senator Barau, Senator Hanga and Senator Gaya were said to have used the parley to reaffirm commitment to the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Both politicians are said to have become dissatisfied with their positions within the party following internal decisions ahead of the 2027 elections.
Hanga reportedly lost the NDC’s Kano Central Senatorial ticket as well as the party’s deputy governorship slot. He is also said to have become disenchanted after not being considered for any political appointment by the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Similarly, Gaya, a former governor of the state, sought the NDC’s Kano South Senatorial ticket but was unsuccessful after the party settled for a consensus candidate backed by Kwankwaso’s political camp.
The duo had earlier met with the National Chairman of the APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, in what was widely seen as a precursor to their planned defection.
The return of the two political heavyweights and their large followers to APC will not only strengthen the ruling party, it is believed will further depleted the ranks of Kwankwasiyya Movement ahead of the 2027 elections in Kano.
