Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is reportedly preparing to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). He has secured the backing of a majority of elected officials, party executives and influential support groups in the state after weeks of consultations across Kano’s political landscape. This move signals a significant rift in the long‑standing alliance between Yusuf and his mentor, former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is the NNPP’s national leader.
Kwankwaso has openly opposed the governor’s planned defection and, in response, has opened a “loyalty register” at his residence in Kano to document elected officials and political groups willing to remain with the NNPP. Despite this, Yusuf has garnered substantial support from within the influential Kwankwasiyya political movement, indicating an internal realignment that weakens Kwankwaso’s hold on the structure.
Supporters of the governor argue that the defection would free the administration from Kwankwaso’s perceived overbearing influence, allowing Yusuf to pursue governance and development priorities independently. Opponents, however, describe the move as a betrayal of the political struggle that brought the NNPP to power in Kano.
Recent reports show several lawmakers have affirmed their loyalty to either side. Senator Rufa’i Sani Hanga, representing Kano Central, and three members of the House of Representatives have signed Kwankwaso’s loyalty register. In contrast, Governor Yusuf enjoys the backing of 21 members of the House of Representatives, including lawmakers from the APC, and the APC has publicly declared its support for his transition. At the state level, the majority of the 25 NNPP lawmakers in the Kano State House of Assembly are said to be loyal to the governor. All 44 local government chairpersons, their deputies and ward‑level executives across the state have opted to follow Yusuf, and several Kwankwasiyya‑aligned organizations have also shifted their allegiance to him.
The potential defection could significantly impact the NNPP, which currently controls only one governorship seat nationwide. Political analysts suggest Yusuf’s move could strip the NNPP of its strongest political base and weaken both the party and Kwankwaso’s influence ahead of the 2027 general elections. The development is expected to have far‑reaching implications for the political landscape in Kano State and beyond.
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