The newly appointed Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, has promised to bring Kano State back under the control of the All Progressives Congress (APC). In an interview with reporters in Kano last weekend, just after taking office, Ata stressed that his new position has a major political goal for the APC.
Kano State, which was previously a strong supporter of the APC under former governor Abdullahi Ganduje (who is now the national chairman of the party), changed its political support during the 2023 elections and started backing the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
Ata emphasised that his appointment to the ministry was motivated by strategic political goals, with the aim of restoring APC’s influence in Kano. “APC has lost Kano State, and our mission now is to win it back,” Ata said. He also mentioned, as reported by the Daily Trust, that “The main focus will be on Kano Central district, which is where I come from.”
He also explained that, even though his job is in the housing and urban development ministry, he plans to frequently visit Kano to help APC achieve its objectives in the area. “Even as a minister, I will continue to sit in this Ward, and we will work very hard to see that APC gains control of Kano state,” he assured.