Senator Rufai Sani Hanga has dismissed reports that he is set to leave the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting that he remains a loyal member of his party.
There had been widespread speculation that the senator was preparing to join the ruling APC after holding a series of meetings with senior party leaders, including President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking during a local radio programme in Kano on Tuesday, Hanga denied making any decision to defect.
“I still remain a member of NDC and I have not yet made any plans of decamping out,” he said.
Despite reaffirming his loyalty to the NDC, the senator expressed doubts about the party’s chances in the next presidential election.
According to him, the NDC currently lacks the nationwide support and political strength required 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”.
