Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf and his predecessor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, came face-to-face for the first time since the keenly contested 2023 governorship election.
The unexpected encounter took place on Tuesday at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, marking their first meeting in nearly two years after a heated political rivalry.
According to reports, the meeting happened by coincidence. Ganduje, who now serves as Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, was in Kano to inspect airport facilities when he ran into Governor Yusuf, who was preparing to board a flight to Abuja.
Witnesses described the moment as surprisingly cordial, with both men exchanging pleasantries in a friendly atmosphere despite their political differences.
While Ganduje was welcomed by top APC stalwarts, Governor Yusuf arrived at the airport in the company of senior government officials.
It would be recalled that Ganduje, during the 2023 transition, did not personally hand over power to his successor. Instead, he delegated the responsibility to the then Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji.
Governor Yusuf of the New Nigeria People’s Party had defeated Ganduje’s preferred candidate, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress, in what was one of the most hotly contested elections in Kano’s political history.
