Kwankwaso anoints his son-in-law as his candidate to become the next Kano State governor

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has endorsed his son-in law Abba Kabir Yusuf as his choice for 2019 Kano State governorship elections.

Senator Kwankwaso, the lawmaker representing Kano Central senatorial District, is one of 12 candidates seeking to become the PDP presidential flagbearer in next February's pools. He recently defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after the party frowned at his presidential ambitions.

Since declaring his interest in the presidency, Senator Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor has been at loggerheads with the incumbent Abdullahi Ganduje who was his former deputy. Governor Ganduje has limited Senator Kwankwaso's access to facilities in the state to conduct his campaign but yesterday, he sneaked into the city to address his supporters at his Milla Road residence.

Many of Senator Kwankwaso's supporters were not aware of his arrival in Kano as the trip was not announced. While in the city, Senator Kwankwaso endorsed his son-in-law as his choice for governorship, saying it was necessary because most of his projects including the famous Kano Kofar Nassarawa flyover were designed and executed by Mr Yusuf.

Senator Kwankwaso said: “I’m in Kano to see you and say thank you for the brotherhood and progressive unity we enjoy as Kwankwasiyya members. Certainly, we will sit and talk on vital issues affecting us.

“Today most of the projects being executed by Ganduje are not durable and of low standard while huge amount of money was being spent on them but our projects, which mostly were designed and executed by Abba Kabir Yusuf are today standing firm in Kano. If not for the fact that I’m busy and rushing back to Abuja for the presidential screening going on right now, I would have loved to sit and discuss vital issues with you.”

Calling on his supporters to remain calm, Senator Kwankwaso, who spent only one hour in Kano, told his supporters that he was willing to sit with them and iron things out. He promised to return in the next few weeks to resolve some of the issues on the forthcoming elections in 2019.

Among his loyalists at the meeting included his former chief of staff and commissioner for water resources Dr Yunusa Dangwani, Abba Kabir Yusuf a former commissioner of works as well as Aminu Abdulsalam, his former commissioner of state affairs. Like all the other PDP contestants, Senator Kwankwaso has to face the party's screening committee to determine his eligibility to run for office.