NNPP Alleges Kano Governor Sought to Bar Kwankwaso from State
A senior official of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has alleged that Kano State Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf wrote to the federal government to prevent the party’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, from entering the state.
Buba Galadima, a prominent NNPP chieftain, made the claim in an interview with DCL Hausa on Thursday. His statement follows reported efforts by members of the U.S. Congress to impose a visa ban on Kwankwaso, citing allegations of his role in Christian persecution during his tenure as Kano governor.
Galadima stated the NNPP was aware of the governor’s alleged correspondence to the federal authorities. “We are aware that the Kano State Government has written to the Federal Government trying to prevent Kwankwaso from coming into Kano. But we are awaiting the response of the Federal Government,” he said. He suggested this could be part of a pattern of obstruction, questioning if authorities sought to “stop him from coming to the state the way they have done in the past” and vowing legal challenge if such a move occurred.
Separately, Galadima dismissed the U.S. Congress’s allegations of Christian persecution as “unfounded and politically motivated.” He linked the reported visa ban proposal to domestic political pressure, claiming the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government had “unpleasant plans” against Kwankwaso if he refused to join the party. He described Kwankwaso as resolute against intimidation, stating the former governor had vowed not to join the APC unless conditions benefiting the public were met.
Galadima further alleged a campaign of threats against Kwankwaso from government officials. He claimed officials had referenced a so-called “Malami treatment”—a term reportedly used to denote severe legal harassment—and threatened to arrest him on “spurious allegations.” He accused the government of fabricating statements to discredit the opposition figure, while asserting the NNPP remained “unshaken.”
The chieftain also addressed speculation about political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections, indicating the NNPP would prioritize the interests of its supporters and the Nigerian public in any future decisions.
The allegations highlight the intense political friction between the NNPP and the state government in Kano, a critical political bloc. They also connect domestic party conflicts to international scrutiny, as the U.S. Congress’s proposed visa ban adds a layer of diplomatic pressure on the influential northern politician. The federal government’s position on the alleged Kano State letter and the ultimate fate of the U.S. visa proposal remain unclear.
