Kano APC Swells as Hanga, Gaya, Doguwa Lead 136,038 Defectors into Ruling Party

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has recorded a major boost ahead of the 2027 general elections following the defection of prominent politicians, including former senators Rufai Sani Hanga and Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, as well as Senator Masud El-Jibrin Doguwa.

The politicians were among 136,038 new members received into the APC in Kano on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in a large-scale defection that could reshape the political landscape of the state.

Hanga, a former senator representing Kano Central, and Gaya, who previously represented Kano South in the Senate, were prominent figures among those who crossed over to the governing party. Doguwa was also listed among the high-profile defectors joining the APC.

The mass movement was formally received by the Kano State chapter of the APC during an event attended by party leaders and supporters. Reports said the exercise involved the registration of more than 136,000 new members, highlighting the scale of the political realignment.

The development comes at a politically significant period as parties and politicians begin positioning themselves for the 2027 elections. Kano, one of Nigeria’s most politically influential states, is expected to remain a major battleground in the next electoral cycle.

The entry of the former senators is particularly significant because of their previous political experience and networks within Kano State. Their decision to join the APC could strengthen the party’s organisational structure and influence across several constituencies.

The mass defection also includes other politicians and political actors who had previously operated outside the APC. Their movement into the ruling party signals an expanding coalition as the 2027 political contest gradually takes shape.

The APC’s reception of the new members is expected to generate further debate among political stakeholders in Kano, particularly regarding the implications for the balance of power between the ruling party and opposition groups.

For the defectors, the decision represents a fresh political alignment at a time when Nigeria’s political parties are intensifying efforts to consolidate their structures ahead of the next general elections.

The development could also have implications beyond Kano, given the state’s strategic importance in northern Nigerian politics and its substantial voting population. The scale of Saturday’s defection is therefore likely to attract considerable attention as preparations for 2027 gather momentum.

With 136,038 people reportedly joining the APC in Kano in a single political realignment, the party has secured a significant headline-grabbing boost. Whether the new alliance translates into electoral advantage, however, will ultimately depend on how effectively the APC integrates the new members and converts the expanded political structure into votes at the polls.