Former Kano State Governor and ex-senator Kabiru Gaya has agreed to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following a private meeting with the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, days after reportedly losing the NDC senatorial ticket for Kano South.
Former Kano State Governor and prominent political figure Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya has agreed to return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after a closed-door meeting with the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, in Abuja.
The meeting, held at Yilwatda’s residence on Yaounde Street on Monday night, reportedly lasted about 45 minutes. Sources familiar with the discussions said Gaya agreed during the meeting to rejoin the ruling party after months of political realignment ahead of the 2027 general election.
Decision follows recent political moves
Gaya’s return comes barely months after he resigned from the APC.
The former governor left the party in April, briefly joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and later aligned with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) alongside former Kano State Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as opposition forces reorganised ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, recent reports indicated that Gaya failed to secure the NDC’s senatorial ticket for Kano South, a development widely believed to have influenced his latest political decision, although Gaya has not publicly confirmed that this was the reason for his return.
Meeting with APC chairman
According to sources quoted by Channels Television, the private meeting between Gaya and Yilwatda ended with an understanding that the former governor would return to the APC.
One source familiar with the discussion said:
“Yes, Senator Kabiru Gaya has agreed to rejoin the APC.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither Gaya nor the APC National Working Committee had released a detailed official statement outlining the terms of his return.
Gaya’s political career
Kabiru Gaya remains one of Kano State’s most experienced politicians.
He served as Governor of Kano State between 1992 and 1993 during the Third Republic before later representing Kano South Senatorial District in the National Assembly from 2007 until 2023 under the APC platform.
In the 2023 general election, he lost his bid for another Senate term to Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, who contested on the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
Implications for Kano politics
Gaya’s expected return is seen as another significant development in Kano’s rapidly evolving political landscape.
The state has witnessed several defections among major political figures as parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political analysts say Gaya’s return could strengthen the APC’s influence in Kano South while highlighting the continued realignment among opposition politicians in the state.
However, the full political implications are expected to become clearer once Gaya formally announces his next steps and whether additional supporters will also defect back to the APC.