The New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) has lost its sole state governorship as Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (PAC), a move that has intensified political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections. Yusuf’s switch, publicly marked by APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje raising his hand, follows his resignation from the NNPP citing irreconcilable internal crises and disputes.
Governor Yusuf, in his resignation letter, accused the NNPP of deep divisions, prolonged leadership court cases, and the disenfranchisement of members, stating his continued stay would not serve Kano’s interests. His departure prompted an emotional response from NNPP leader and former governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso declared January 23 a ‘Betrayal Day,’ likening Yusuf’s action to historical acts of treachery. He predicted Yusuf would lose the 2027 governorship election, arguing that Ganduje’s endorsement was politically toxic in Kano.
The APC swiftly rejected this prediction. State Publicity Director Bala Ibrahim asserted that Ganduje’s support had consistently led to victories in other states and that the APC’s popularity, bolstered by the federal “Renewed Hope Agenda,” made triumph in Kano certain.
NNPP officials framed Yusuf’s move as a personal survival tactic, not a reflection of the party’s strength. National Youth Leader Auwal Musa Muhammad emphasized that the party’s nationwide grassroots structure remains fiercely loyal to Kwankwaso. Secretary of the Board of Trustees Buba Galadima branded the defection a “world-class betrayal,” drawing parallels to Judas and Brutus.
The conflict was visually underscored when both Kwankwaso and Governor Yusuf separately visited Kano’s Singer Market after a fire, each greeted by large crowds, demonstrating their enduring individual influence.
Historical precedent was invoked by NNPP National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson, who cited the 1983 electoral collapse of former Governor Abubakar Rimi, who had similarly defected with most state assembly members only to be defeated himself, with almost all his defectors losing re-election.
While the Kano State Government, via Information Commissioner Ibrahim Waiya, insisted Yusuf’s re-election hinges on his performance and the people’s support—not “political godfathers”—the episode has crystallized a bitter rivalry. It pits Yusuf’s new alliance with the APC and Ganduje against Kwankwaso’s claim to an unchanging ideological base. The defection represents a major realignment in Kano politics, testing whether loyalty to a personal movement or performance in office will define the state’s 2027 electoral contest.
