APC Heavyweights Unite Behind Bichi for Kano Deputy Governor Slot
A fresh wave of political alignment has emerged within the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress as top party leaders, including the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau I. Jibrin, and former state chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, have thrown their full support behind Engr. (Dr.) Rabiu Suleiman Bichi for the vacant Deputy Governor’s position.
The endorsement, disclosed in a press statement issued in Abuja and signed by the Organising Secretary of the APC Legacy Group, Indo Kwarin Albarka, underscores what party insiders describe as a calculated move to consolidate unity and strengthen internal cohesion ahead of future political contests.
According to the statement, Bichi’s candidacy gained momentum during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting where the motion for his nomination was formally moved by Abbas and seconded by the deputy state chairman, Salisu Maje Ahmad Gwangwazo. The process, the group emphasized, reflected consensus-building rather than an electoral contest.
The APC Legacy Group described Bichi as “the only viable option” capable of bridging divides within the party, noting that his emergence would serve as a rallying point for members across factions. The group highlighted his extensive experience, portraying him as a seasoned technocrat with a rare blend of administrative depth and political maturity.
“Engr. (Dr.) Rabiu Suleiman Bichi represents a unique convergence of leadership experience at the state, federal, and development levels,” the statement read, pointing to his previous roles as Managing Director of the Urban Development Bank of Nigeria (UDBN), Managing Director of KNUPDA, Commissioner, and Secretary to the State Government under successive administrations.
Currently serving as Managing Director of the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), Bichi’s track record, the group argued, demonstrates both competence and capacity to effectively complement the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
The statement further stressed that Bichi possesses the “age, academic qualifications, and administrative sagacity” required for the office, urging party stakeholders to align behind his candidacy in the broader interest of party stability in Kano.
In a swift rebuttal to circulating reports, the Legacy Group dismissed claims that a voting process took place during the expanded stakeholders’ meeting, describing such narratives as “fabrications” aimed at misleading the public. It clarified that while multiple aspirants were considered, their names were forwarded to the governor for final selection, in line with established party procedures.
Albarka accused unnamed groups of attempting to distort facts and create unnecessary tension within the party, insisting that due process was followed throughout deliberations.
Expressing optimism, he concluded that Bichi’s widespread acceptance among party stakeholders positions him as the frontrunner for the role, reinforcing confidence that he will ultimately emerge as the preferred choice.
The endorsement signals a significant shift in Kano’s political landscape, as influential APC figures close ranks in what appears to be a strategic bid to maintain party unity and influence in the state.