A university don has emerged as the running mate to the Kano State All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

He is Professor Hafizu Abubakar, who until now is the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Bayero University, Kano. Kano APC chairman,

Alhaji Haruna Doguwa, made this known yesterday. He said that Professor Abubakar was made after wide consultations with the gubernatorial candidate himself and many party stakeholders. Prof. Abubakar hails from Gwale Local Government of Kano State. He was a one-time Commissioner for Finance during the first tenure of Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso between 1999-2003.

The APC chairman told journalists that Prof. Abubakar’s emergence was not unconnected with his competence, loyalty and the admiration he enjoys from party followers in the state and beyond.

Doguwa also noted that before the decision was made, consultations were held with the party leadership at the State, Ward and local government level.

He maintained that every stakeholder was carried along in the choice of the university don. Prof. Abubakar was not perceived by party faithful as a contender for the running mate to the gubernatorial candidate.

It was gathered that the frontrunner for the post was the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon Kawu Sumaila, who barely few hours to the party’s gubernatorial primaries, withdrew from the contest to align with the State Deputy Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who eventually emerged the party’s flag bearer.

The current Commissioner for Works and son in-law to Governor Kwankwaso was also hitherto advertised by some party members as a strong contender for the job.

•Adapted from National Mirror. Photo shows Prof. Abubakar.