Aminu Gwarzo, the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano state, has picked Mustapha Kwankwaso, as his running mate.
Mustapha is the son of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the vice presidential candidate of the party.
The development was confirmed on Monday by key figures within the Kwankwasiyya movement and the former Kano governor’s political camp.
Announcing the decision, Habibu Mohammed, the spokesperson of the Kwankwasiyya movement disclosed that Gwarzo formally unveiled Mustapha Kwankwaso as the party’s deputy governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 polls.
The nomination was also confirmed by Saifullahi Hassan, media aide to Rabiu Kwankwaso, who congratulated Mustapha on his emergence as the NDC’s deputy governorship flagbearer.
Gwarzo and Mustapha previously served in the administration of Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf as deputy governor and commissioner for youth and sports development respectively.
Both politicians later exited the administration following the political fallout between Governor Yusuf and Rabiu Kwankwaso.
After leaving the government, they aligned with the Nigeria Democratic Congress, the political platform jointly adopted by former Anambra State governor Peter Obi and Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Gwarzo secured the NDC governorship ticket in May, while Mustapha’s emergence as running mate is expected to strengthen the party’s political structure in Kano as preparations intensify for the 2027 election cycle.