Ex–Kano Deputy claims he founded Kwankwasiyya, not Kwankwaso
A former Deputy Governor of Kano State, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, has claimed that the influential Kwankwasiyya Movement was founded by him and five other supporters, and not by its widely recognised leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Prof. Abubakar, who served as deputy governor during Kwankwaso’s administration, said the idea, name and iconic red cap symbol associated with the movement were conceived by him and his colleagues at a critical period in Kano’s political history.
According to him, the initiative was created to preserve and advance their collective political ideology and influence at a time of intense political challenges in the state, noting that Kwankwaso later emerged as the most prominent face of the movement.
“Myself and five others created the Kwankwasiyya Movement and even gave it a red cap symbol, not Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso,” Abubakar said in a recent interview.
The former deputy governor’s remarks challenge the long-held belief that Kwankwaso single-handedly established the movement, which has grown into a powerful grassroots force in Kano and beyond, easily identified by its supporters’ signature red caps.
The controversial claim comes amid ongoing political realignments in Kano State, where the influence of the Kwankwasiyya Movement is being tested by defections and shifting party loyalties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The movement has played a significant role in shaping Kano’s political landscape in recent years, particularly following the emergence of Abba Kabir Yusuf as governor and his recent defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), developments that continue to reshape alliances within the state’s political space.
