Alhaji Mukhtar Gashash clinched the Accord party's governorship ticket for Kano on Tuesday. Party officials ratified his nomination after the national secretariat screened him in Abuja last week.
Gashash accepted the candidacy with promises to restore Kano's commercial glory. He believes the state needs security and a business-friendly atmosphere to thrive in modern times.
A prominent businessman, Gashash chairs both the Greater Kano Business Council and Kano Eminent Persons Group. He told party members that influential traders pressured him to enter the race.
According to him, Kano once attracted merchants from around the world. He wants to bring back those prosperous days through strategic leadership and vision.
"I've turned down earlier calls to contest," Gashash noted during his speech. "But now I'm convinced we must make sacrifices to lift Kano to new economic and political heights."
State party chairman Yusuf Abdullahi Tarauni presented him with the party flag. Tarauni predicted the Accord party would wrest control from the ruling APC in 2027.
He said the party has backing from Kano's business community, youth groups, and women's associations. Tarauni expressed confidence in the party's chances across the state.
Gashash comes from a prominent political family with deep roots in Kano. His late father, Ibrahim Musa Gashash, was a successful trader and influential NPC member.
The elder Gashash served as Northern Regional Minister between 1958 and 1966. He also financed the party during its early years and wielded considerable influence in northern Nigeria.
The 2027 election will test whether Gashash can translate his business credentials into political capital. Party officials believe his track record as an entrepreneur gives him an edge in Kano's competitive political landscape.
Campaign activities are expected to ramp up in coming weeks. Multiple aspirants from other parties are also positioning themselves for the governorship race.
