Former Kano South senator, Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, has lost his bid to return to the red chamber after the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) adopted Alkasim Ibrahim Batayya as its consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.

The decision was reportedly reached during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Kano residence of former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso on Sunday.

Despite losing the ticket, Gaya was said to have accepted the outcome and pledged support for Batayya ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The development is considered a major setback for the former lawmaker, who represented Kano South in the 9th Senate from 2015 to 2023 and remains one of the prominent political figures from the zone.