Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has secured the consent of the majority of elected officials, party executives, and influential support groups in the state following a series of consultations ahead of his planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor’s move from the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) marks the end of a decades-long political association with his mentor, former Governor of Kano and leader of the NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Mr Kwankwaso, who opposes the move, has reportedly opened a “loyalty register” at his Miller Road residence to document elected officials and support groups who intend to remain with the NNPP.
Despite this, a “palace coup” appears to be underway, as the governor has successfully drawn significant support from within the Kwankwasiyya movement.
Proponents of the defection argue that Governor Yusuf is seeking to “liberate” his administration from Mr Kwankwaso’s overbearing influence, allowing him to address the state’s development challenges independently.
Conversely, opponents have labelled the move as the “ultimate betrayal” of their long-standing political struggle.
THE LOYALTY DIVIDE
As of Monday morning, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Rufa’i Hanga (Kano Central zenator) and his colleagues from the federal lower chamber —including Mukhtar Yarima (Tarauni), Abdulkarim Ado (Wudil/Garko), and Sani Wakili (Minjibir/Ungogo)—have affirmed their loyalty to Mr Kwankwaso by signing the register.
While Mr Kwankwaso retains the support of three federal lawmakers and the NNPP’s lone senator, Governor Yusuf enjoys the backing of 21 members of the House of Representatives.
This coalition notably includes APC members, dwarfing the support of the federal lawmakers currently aligned with Mr Kwankwaso, with APC federal lawmaker Ado Doguwa declaring his party’s support for the governor’s planned transition.
Within the State House of Assembly, while the governor reportedly commands the majority of the 25 NNPP members, others, such as Yusuf Aliyu (Nasarawa) and Zakariyya Ishaq (Kura/Garun Malam), have remained with the Kwankwaso camp.
The member representing Madobi—Mr Kwankwaso’s local government—remains undecided.
Also, this newspaper understands that all the 44 local government chairpersons, their deputies, and 31 ward-level executives in each of the 44 LGAs have opted to follow the governor.
PREMIUM TIMES also gathered that grassroots Kwankwasiyya organisations, including Lafiya Jari and the Community Reorientation Committee (CRC), have also shifted their allegiance to the governor.
Surprisingly, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) splinter group known as ‘Option A,’ which previously acted as a secret support base for Mr Kwankwaso in the PDP, has now dissolved and aligned with Governor Yusuf.
Yusuf to defect with Assembly members
According to the source, Yusuf is expected to defect alongside nine of Kano’s 13 members of the House of Representatives, 20 of the 27 members of the Kano State House of Assembly — including the Speaker and all principal officers — as well as 42 of the 44 local government chairmen across the state.
The source further disclosed that Kwankwaso’s refusal to align with the APC is largely linked to his inability to secure either the presidential or vice-presidential slot on the party’s platform, a position he reportedly reiterated during a recent meeting with supporters at his Miller Road residence in Kano.
The NNPP leader Rabiu Kwankwaso says he will only defect to another party if offered the presidential or vice-presidential ticket for 2027.
He disclosed that the APC invited him to join, but he rejected the offer due to the absence of clear benefits for him and his political structure.
On the internal crisis rocking the NNPP in Kano, the source said Governor Yusuf has effectively taken control of the party’s structure in the state following the suspension of the former state chairman, Hashim Dungurawa.
A Kano State High Court later upheld Dungurawa’s suspension and restrained him from parading himself as chairman, pending the outcome of the case
THE PLANNED DEFECTION
The planned defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has become irreversible, multiple close sources within the state government have disclosed.
This is despite strong opposition from the NNPP’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who has warned that Governor Yusuf must vacate office if he leaves the party that brought him to power.
Kwankwaso , the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and former Kano state governor, had publicly insisted that the mandate secured in the 2023 governorship election belonged to the NNPP, not to any individual.
He also reiterated that any political alliance he would consider must guarantee him either the presidential or vice-presidential ticket in future elections.
However, a highly placed source at the Government House in
Kano said Governor Yusuf’s decision to join the APC has moved beyond speculation and internal consultations.
“The process can no longer be reversed. The governor has concluded consultations and is moving with the majority of the political structure in the state,” the source said.
The NNPP currently holds only one governorship seat. If Governor Yusuf finally defects from the state’s political structure, the NNPP risks losing its primary power base and structure, effectively turning the party and its leader, Mr Kwankwaso into a peripheral player ahead of the 2027 elections.
KEY APC FIGURES IN THE STATE HAVE WELCOMED THE DEVELOPMENT
Former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin have expressed readiness to work with Yusuf. The state APC chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, has also urged the governor to feel at home in the party.
However, Yusuf’s arrival could trigger internal competition within the APC.
Barau Jibrin, who represents Kano North, is believed to have his own governorship ambition. Yusuf’s entry may affect existing calculations, alliances, and negotiations within the party.
Senator Rufai Sani Hanga of Kano Central has remained with the NNPP and continues to align with Kwankwaso. Meanwhile, Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila of Kano South had earlier defected to the APC and is no longer part of the Kwankwaso camp.
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