Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s possible defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has unsetttled the Kwankwasiyya Movement in the state.
Though Governor Yusuf has maintained public silence, the political signals have been loud enough to set nerves jangling within the NNPP as aides closer to the governor have already affirmed the move.
It is also believed that this move could signal a major rift that may lead to a total split from governor Abba’s longtime political godfather, Rabiu Kwankwaso, the national leader of the NNPP.
Indicators supporting defection
Though the state governor is yet to issue any official statement regarding his plan to move to APC, indicators have shown that there has been an ongoing high-level consultation between NNPP political actors and that of APC. It was reliably gathered that the governor had been meeting with top APC officials and some elected representatives to brief them on the planned transition processes and had also asked some of his aides to go to the grassroots to meet with NNPP members in preparation for the NNPP’s planned shift to APC.
However, the testament to this move by the state governor was the recent meeting between Abdullahi Rogo, the director general of the Protocol Directorate at the Kano State Government House, and NNPP stakeholders from the Rogo Local Government Area.
In a video that went viral Rogo was seen trying to justify their intended move to join APC. He was seen speaking on the resolutions reached during the meeting.
“We have consulted with the NNPP stakeholders in Rogo, and we are in agreement that the leadership of the Kwankwasiyya movement, specifically Rabiu Kwankwaso and Governor Abba Yusuf, should lead us back to the APC. We believe that Kwankwaso’s presidential ambitions can only be realised on the APC platform. Our decision is rooted in the best interests and future prosperity of Kano State.” He said.
Another testimony was another viral video from the executive chairman of Tofa Local government Area of Kano state, Alhaji Anas Danmaliki, were he was seen stating that they are loyal to Abba Kabir Yusuf’s faction of the Kwankwasiyya, and it was also gathered that the governor’s spokesperson Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, is in support of the move as well.
The silent disagreements
It was on record that the disagreement between Abba Kabir Yusuf and his political Godfather senator Kwankwaso started rearing its head in 2024, when the governor reportedly rejected Mr Kwankwaso’s requests to replace several top government officials based on their move in urging the state governor to stand on his own and discard his mentor. It was however, reported that the issue was dozed after the governor’s mother intervened and the governor sacked the State Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Baffa Bichi who was accused of sponsoring the movement of urging the governor to lose his loyalty ties with the Kwankwasiyya leader.
It was revealed that that incident was said to be the first signal that indicated that there are people within the NNPP that were not satisfy with the governor’s relationship with his mentor and another indicator that shows evidence of an existing crack between the two was the dumping of NNPP by Aliyu Madaki, the lawmaker representing the Dala Federal Constituency. Madaki claimed that Mr Kwankwaso is perfecting a plan to replace Governor Yusuf with his deputy, Aminu Abdulsalam, in the 2027 election.
Another issue was when Governor Yusuf distanced himself from two major controversies linked to the Kwankwaso family, including the mass purchase of drugs in the state and the governor ordered an investigation into a contract awarded to Musa Kwankwaso, the younger brother of the NNPC leader. It was reported that the deal allegedly involved the unauthorized deduction of N10 million from each of the state’s 44 local government areas to supply medicines and the state governor denied authorizing these deductions, this development was said not to have gone down well with Kwankwaso.
Sources close to both parties revealed that there were other incidents that resulted in the redeployment of some key commissioners and sacking of some office holders loyal to Kwankwaso due to some atrocities linked to them.
NNPP, APC members speak
Publicly, the NNPP has dismissed claims of an imminent defection, insisting that the party remains intact and loyal to its founding ideals. Privately, however, anxiety is palpable as Kano is the NNPP’s political stronghold and losing a sitting governor would not only weaken the party in the state but also diminish its national standing. Party insiders fear that a defection could spark a wave of exits among elected officials and appointees, leaving the NNPP struggling to retain relevance.
When the alleged plan filtered-in, Senator Rufa’i Sani Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central) dismissed the reports saying the people of Kano do not support betrayal and will not follow leaders who abandon the trust of the masses.
Speaking in a viral audio, Hanga stated that he considered the defection rumours as false and deliberately fabricated to create confusion and political instability, insisting that those spreading such claims were neither genuine supporters of the party nor were they well-wishers or friends of the party. He said no true supporter would encourage Governor Yusuf to betray the people of Kano State and the poor masses across the country who stood by him, especially at a time of severe economic hardship triggered by policies such as fuel subsidy removal and proposed tax reforms.
Similarly, leadership of NNPP in Kano State has said it is aware of the moves by some of its members to defect to the APC and described the development as unacceptable to the party at both the state and the national levels.
This was stated during a press conference by the NNPP Chairman in Kano State, Hon. Hashim Suleiman Dungurawa. According to him, the party leadership, including its national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had made efforts to persuade those involved to exercise patience and remain within the party, but noted that such efforts is still ongoing admitting that it is still very difficult to state that there has beena headway on the issue at hand.
He said the NNPP hoped the aggrieved members would reconsider their decision and remain in the party while dismissing allegations being circulated by what he described as rumour mongers, claiming that some party leaders were pitching Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf against Senator Kwankwaso.
Similarly, Kano state based politician and APC chieftain who was a one-time APC factional leader in the state Alhaji Abdulmajid Dan Bilki Kwamanda, revealed that this is a clear Ganduje’s plot against DSP Barau. According to him, the recent alleged plans of defection of Kano state governor and some members of the NNPP is a vindictive and expected move by former APC national party chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to ensure that DSP Barau didn’t emerged as the next Kano state governor.
He emphasizes that loyalists of DSP Barau will surely fight this move and will not allow it to go like that. He explained that they have been following the trend and they will ensure that Ganduje fails in what he termed as a shared hate of Barau by Ganduje.
What experts say
According to Malam Ibrahim Mairiga, a Kano base independent political analyst, Kwankwasiyya can survive outside the government, pointing to its years in opposition. He believed that no one knew Kano politics better than Kwankwaso adding that if the alleged movement is through, the movement is with Kwankwaso’s knowledge. He added that one wouldn’t remove the fact that there is the fear of access to power could pull key figures away, fragmenting the movement ahead of 2027, but he maintained that Kwankwasiyya loyalists may at the end of all the tussle came out victorious.
He further stated that from the governor’s standpoint, the political equation is complex. Joining the APC could offer security, federal backing and a clearer path to re-election. He explained that it also risks alienating core supporters who see the APC as the very establishment Kwankwasiyya was created to challenge and that may create a serious issue for the governor to address.
