Abdulaziz Umar Ganduje, the eldest son of former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has formally entered the political contest for the House of Representatives under the platform of the National Democratic Congress.
Abdulaziz obtained the party’s nomination form on Saturday to contest for the Dawakin Tofa/Tofa/Rimin Gado Federal Constituency seat in Kano State ahead of the next general elections.
His decision to contest under the NDC platform has further highlighted his long-standing political alignment with the Kwankwasiyya movement led by former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, despite his father’s prominent role within the APC over the years.
A viral video circulating on social media showed Abdulaziz in discussions with Kwankwaso shortly after securing the nomination form, where he reportedly briefed the former governor on his ambition and readiness for the forthcoming contest.
The development marks another significant twist in the prolonged political rivalry between Kwankwaso and Abdullahi Ganduje, whose relationship deteriorated years after both men worked closely together in Kano politics.
Political observers in Kano note that Abdulaziz has maintained visible distance from his father’s political structure for years and has consistently identified himself with the Kwankwasiyya political ideology.
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His affiliation with the movement became more publicly pronounced following a controversial family dispute involving his mother, Professor Hafsat Umar Ganduje, whom he once petitioned to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged failed agreement.
Abdulaziz is now seeking to capture the same federal constituency seat contested by his younger brother, Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, during the 2023 general election under the APC platform.
Despite the political influence wielded by Abdullahi Ganduje as the incumbent governor at the time, Umar Ganduje lost the election to the New Nigeria Peoples Party candidate, a result widely viewed as a major political setback for the APC in Kano State.
The latest development is expected to intensify political calculations ahead of the next election cycle, particularly within Kano’s highly competitive political environment where the Kwankwasiyya movement continues to maintain strong grassroots influence.
Analysts also believe Abdulaziz’s move could further deepen political divisions within the Ganduje political camp while reinforcing the growing influence of opposition-aligned movements in the state.