In a confusing political twist of events, Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, who was speculated to have concluded plans to defect from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following a series of meetings with top figures of the ruling party, including President Tinubu, has said that he remains a member of his party.
“I still remain a member of NDC and I have not yet made any plans of Decamping out”, Senator Hanga said while speaking on a local radio programme in Kano on Tuesday.
He, however, openly stated that his party, the NDC, would not win the presidency because it lacked the acceptance and strength needed to defeat the ruling APC.
“NDC will lose Nigeria, they can’t make any impact but I’m certain they will win Kano, this I know, and as for me I still remain a member of my Party,” he said.
Senator Hanga, who has spoken on several issues relating to his relationship with Kwankwaso, explained that they still respect each other.
Speaking on how the NDC gubernatorial candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, and his running mate, Mustapha Kwankwaso, emerged, he noted that “Kwankwaso sent an emissary to me through the NDC Chairman Hussaini Isa Mairiga that he was considering anointing his son, Mustapha, for governorship seat”.
He added, “I bade them farewell and also told him he (Mairiga) to tell Kwankwaso that I was ready to be his son’s campaign manager. Since then, I did not hear anything from them”.
Continuing, Hanga said, “after a few days, Aminu Abdussalam met me in Abuja and told me that Kwankwaso had made him gubernatorial candidate of the party and asked if I was ready to be his deputy. Although, I knew it was a demotion, I accepted but then I just heard that he (Kwankwaso) has made his son, Mustapha, the governor’s running mate”.