These results were a part of a reassertion of the APC's federal dominance after mass 2018 defections away from the party led by Kwankwaso and his allies.

During the term, Shekarau was noted for defecting twice—first to the NNPP in May 2022 then to the PDP in August of the same year—while Jibrin was criticized for corruptly awarding contracts to his own company.

Rufai Sani Hanga New Nigeria Peoples Party The Kano Central Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Dala, Dawakin Kudu, Fagge, Garun Mallam, Gezawa, Gwale, Kano Municipal, Kumbotso, Kura, Madobi, Minjibir, Nasarawa, Tarauni, Ungogo, and Warawa.

[15] The leadership crisis ended in a court ruling that legitimized Ganduje's faction;[16] in response, Shekarau left the APC and joined his longtime rival—former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso—in the NNPP.

[18][19] Another potential issue for Abdulkarim Zaura was his ongoing trial for fraud which some party members claimed should have disqualified his candidacy.

[25] In the years before the primaries, the Kano State PDP split between two factions: one group led by former minister Aminu Wali while the other was supported by former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

[39] By early August, these doubts were confirmed as Shekarau and his allies began publicly lamenting Kwankwaso's allegedly broken promises along with disclosing a potential departure from the NNPP.

[47][48] In late October, after the official campaign period had begun, Abdulkarim Zaura was declared missing from his fraud trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

[50] Similarly, the other two major parties were caught up in litigation as Danburam Abubakar Nuhu and Laila Buhari fought over who was the legitimate PDP nominee while the NNPP went to court to remove Shekarau's name from the ballot papers and replace him with Sani Hanga.

The incumbent Barau Jibrin (APC), who was elected with 61.4% of the vote in 2019, initially ran for governor of Kano State but withdrew from the gubernatorial race to seek re-election.

[56] Later reports contended that Ganduje actually withdrew due to doubts about his own ability to win the general election amid significant unpopularity.

The Kano South Senatorial District covers the local government areas of Ajingi, Albasu, Bebeji, Doguwa, Garko, Gaya, Kibiya, Kiru, Rano, Rogo, Sumaila, Takai,Bunkure, Karaye, Tudun Wada, and Wudil.

[18][19] The primary in Rano resulted in Suleiman Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila—former House of Representatives member and former aide to President Muhammadu Buhari—being nominated unopposed.