By Hussaini Ibrahim
The immediate past Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Umar Haruna Doguwa, on Wednesday ascended to the chairmanship of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
His election was conducted at the party’s state congress, which concluded in the early hours of Wednesday under the supervision of the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Kano, Ambassador Zango Abdu.
Delegates from the 44 local government areas of the state endorsed Doguwa and other consensus candidates through voice votes in what party sources described as a peaceful and transparent exercise.
The chairmanship position had been zoned to the Kano South Senatorial District, Doguwa’s home region, following party guidelines. He succeeds Abdullahi Abbas, who served as state chairman for a decade.
Doguwa, who previously chaired the APC during the second term of former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, recently resigned as Commissioner for Water Resources in Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s cabinet ahead of the congress, signalling his readiness to return to party leadership.
In his farewell remarks, outgoing chairman Abbas described the congress as a “joyous moment” for the party.
He thanked party members and leaders, including former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Governor Yusuf, for their support during his tenure.
He also sought forgiveness from anyone he may have offended and urged members to fully back the incoming leadership.
Speaking on the congress, Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, chairman of the State Congress Committee, revealed that 2,420 accredited delegates participated in the exercise.
He emphasized that the presence of INEC officials reinforced the credibility of the process.
On his part, Doguwa expressed gratitude and promised to lead inclusively. He said, “I am humbled by the trust of our delegates and party leaders. My focus will be to unite every member and strengthen our structures across Kano State.”
Other executives confirmed through consensus include: Salisu Majje Ahmed Gwangwazo as Deputy Chairman, Prof. Yusuf Mohammed as State Secretary, Nura Yaro as Assistant Secretary, Abdul Adamu (SAN) as Legal Adviser, Bashir Yusuf as Assistant Legal Adviser, Farouq Abdullahi Garo as Financial Secretary, Salisu Yahaya as Youth Leader, Musadiq Wazari as Assistant Youth Leader, Abubakar Salisu as Auditor, and Hajiya Fatima Abdullahi Dala as Women Leader, among others.
The newly elected officials were sworn in before party leaders and stakeholders in a ceremony described by insiders as “historic and unifying.”
In his address, Governor Yusuf congratulated the new executives, urging them to justify the confidence reposed in them.
He said, “The success of this party in Kano depends on discipline, unity, and commitment. I urge the new leadership to work tirelessly to achieve our shared vision.”
He encouraged the team to strengthen the party’s structures and advance its agenda across Kano State ahead of the 2027 elections.