Opposition Lawmaker Rufa’i Hanga Joins APC with 136,000

Rufa’i Hanga, the only opposition lawmaker representing Kano Central in the Senate, defected from the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Saturday. He was joined by approximately 136,000 supporters during a mega rally at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.

The event was attended by APC national chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, Kano Governor Abba, and former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, who welcomed Hanga and other defectors into the party. The rally also served to unveil the Tinubu Support Group, a campaign structure for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

In a video from the event, Yilwatda, Ganduje, and other leaders were seen wearing APC-branded caps with the Tinubu insignia. Hassan Tukur, senior special assistant on new media to the governor of Kano, listed other notable defectors, including Kabiru Gaya, Ali Datti Yako, Badaru Umar, Isyaku Danja, and Yusuf Danbatta.

Ganduje remarked that the gathering confirmed the effectiveness of Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.