Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s potential defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has sparked intense speculation and debate. Initially slated for early January 2026, the move was delayed until January 12, 2026, and has since been put on hold as the governor continues consultations with key stakeholders.
According to sources, Governor Yusuf is demanding an automatic ticket for the 2027 election as a condition for joining the APC. The ruling party’s leadership has yet to grant this request, pending President Bola Tinubu’s return from a foreign trip. This development has been linked to the split within the NNPP, which has been plagued by internal wrangling and a contentious logo change.
The crisis within the NNPP began with a dispute over the party’s logo, with the Kwankwaso-led faction introducing a new design featuring a book and graduation cap, while the governor’s camp insisted on maintaining the original logo. This has led to legal battles and deepened internal fragmentation, with the governor and Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon Jibril Ismail Falgore, on one side, and the deputy governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, and some state cabinet members remaining loyal to Kwankwaso.
The immediate past Chairman of NNPP in Kano State, Hashimu Dungurawa, has urged the governor to reconsider his planned defection, citing the uncertainty of his re-election prospects in the APC. Dungurawa emphasized that the governor’s re-election is more assured under the NNPP, where he enjoys widespread support.
Meanwhile, Kwankwaso’s supporters, known as the Kwankwassiyya Movement, are mounting pressure on the governor to remain in the NNPP, warning of potential consequences in the 2027 election if he ignores their warnings. The governor’s cabinet members loyal to Kwankwaso, including Hon Mustapha Kwankwaso, have threatened to resign if the governor officially joins the APC.
As the situation unfolds, the governor’s next move remains uncertain, with the APC’s response to his demands and President Tinubu’s return from his foreign trip likely to determine the outcome. The developments have significant implications for the political landscape in Kano State and the 2027 election, with the NNPP and APC vying for dominance.
