The political tension between Katsina State Governor Dikko Umaru Radda and the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Masari, appears to have intensified following the questioning of two senior security aides attached to the governor.
The governor’s Aide-de-Camp, Superintendent Abdulganiyu Bello, and Chief Security Officer, Deputy Superintendent Hassan Bello, were invited to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where they were questioned by the police over the alleged destruction of billboards bearing the images of Masari and President Tinubu in Katsina.
The development has further fuelled speculation about an emerging crisis within the Katsina State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), coming shortly after Radda and some of his associates were reportedly excluded from the recently released list of members of the President’s 2027 campaign council.
The two security officers were invited to Abuja last week over the alleged removal or destruction of billboards displayed along the Modoji Junction-Katsina Government House Road.
The billboards reportedly featured large images of President Tinubu and Masari, with some residents alleging that the governor’s image was either absent or given less prominence.
However, there are differing accounts of the content of the billboards, with some sources saying they carried images of the President alongside other prominent Katsina politicians.
The Nigeria Police Force spokesman, Anietie Iniedu, a Chief Superintendent of Police, confirmed that the two officers were invited but denied reports that they had been arrested or detained.
“They were invited for an interview. They were not arrested or detained,” he told Daily Trust.
There were, however, conflicting reports about whether the officers had returned to Katsina, with some sources claiming they had not been seen in the state since travelling to Abuja.
It was also learnt that Katsina State Government House Chief of Staff, Abdulkadir Nasir, travelled to Abuja in an effort to secure the release of the two officials.
A political associate identified as Aminu Sanda, popularly known as Aminu Nasta, and described as a leader of a political group in Katsina, was also reportedly arrested in connection with the billboard incident.
Katsina APC divided
The development has intensified debate over the relationship between the two political camps within the Katsina APC.
One group, often referred to as the “Katsina APC”, comprises party members and political actors based in the state who are largely seen as loyal to Governor Radda. The other, described as the “Katsina/Abuja APC”, consists largely of Katsina politicians occupying influential positions at the federal level.
The two groups have reportedly had differences over political interests and control of the party’s affairs in the state.
Masari is considered close to President Tinubu and influential in the APC’s political calculations concerning Katsina. In the build-up to the 2023 presidential election, he served as a placeholder for Tinubu while the then presidential candidate resolved the issue of his running mate.
Radda has previously alleged that some political forces operating from Abuja were working against his administration, although he has said he would reveal their identities at the appropriate time.
The allegation resurfaced following the removal of former Minister of Housing, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, from the Federal Executive Council.
Dangiwa, who previously served as Secretary to the Katsina State Government under Radda, was replaced as minister by Mutaqa Rabe Darma, who is widely regarded as being politically aligned with Masari.
The development has since been interpreted by some observers as evidence of growing differences between Radda and influential political actors from Katsina operating at the federal level.
Analysts warn of 2027 implications
Political analyst Dr Bashir Ibrahim Kurfi told Daily Trust that there appeared to be an internal crisis within the Katsina APC and warned that a prolonged disagreement could damage the party’s prospects in the 2027 general elections.
He said the exclusion of Radda and some of his close associates from the President’s campaign committee had strengthened allegations of strained relations between the governor and political actors in Abuja.
Kurfi warned that although members of the Katsina APC might be attempting to conceal their differences, a continuation of the situation could affect the party’s electoral performance.
Similarly, APC chieftain Musa Nuhu Gafiya called on Radda and influential party members in Abuja to resolve any differences between them.
He said the alleged crisis was being amplified by opposition figures on social media and urged all sides to work towards ensuring the success of the APC at both state and federal levels.
Radda’s aide denies crisis
The Special Adviser to Governor Radda on Political Matters, Ya’u Umar Gwajo-Gwajo, dismissed reports of a crisis between the governor and the Presidency, describing the situation as normal political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking to JBC Hausa, Gwajo-Gwajo said Radda remained the state coordinator of Tinubu’s 2027 campaign and maintained a cordial relationship with the President.
He said the governor had never given any indication that he was at odds with the Presidency.
“What is happening now is just politics because the campaign has begun. As far as we are concerned, there is no form of crisis,” he said.
Gwajo-Gwajo also said the governor’s camp was not aware of the reported detention of Katsina officials in Abuja.
The Katsina APC Publicity Secretary, Shamsu Sule, said he could not comment on the matter and promised to refer questions to the state party chairman. He had not responded as of the time of filing the report.
‘I’m not aware of any rift’ – Governor’s media aide
The Director-General of Media to Governor Radda, Maiwada Danmalam, also denied knowledge of any political disagreement between his principal and Masari.
Danmalam said he was hearing about the alleged rift from the reporter, although he had seen a report on the matter published by a national online media organisation.
“I am not aware of any political rift between the governor and Malam Kabir Ibrahim Masari. In fact, I am hearing this from you for the first time,” he said.
He added that another online media organisation had contacted him for clarification, but he was unable to provide details because he had not been briefed about any disagreement between the two politicians.
Danmalam urged journalists and members of the public to exercise caution when discussing sensitive political matters, warning against speculation that could unnecessarily heighten tension.
His comments came amid growing speculation among political observers in Katsina over possible realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.
With the elections approaching, the competing accounts have left the Katsina APC facing questions over the relationship between the governor’s camp and influential party figures in Abuja, even as both sides publicly deny that there is a serious political crisis.
