Internal Rift in NNPP Deepens as Kano Governor’s Defection Plans Stall.
Internal Rift in NNPP Deepens as Kano Governor’s Defection Plans Stall.
Uncertainty surrounds Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s planned defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), sparking intense political speculation in Kano. Originally scheduled for the first week of January 2026, the move was postponed to January 12, amid ongoing consultations and warnings from his political mentor, NNPP leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Sources reveal that Yusuf’s insistence on an automatic ticket for the 2027 gubernatorial election has complicated negotiations. The ruling APC has yet to approve this demand, awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s return from abroad. An insider explained that Yusuf fears joining APC without assured support from key figures like Abdullahi Ganduje and Kwankwaso, which could jeopardize his re-election prospects. The governor’s supporters worry that losing Kwankwaso’s backing would weaken his political standing, especially as Kwankwaso is reluctant to move to APC himself.
The political crisis in Kano is compounded by a deep internal split within the NNPP, triggered by disagreements over leadership and party symbols. The faction loyal to Kwankwaso replaced the party’s original logo, sparking legal battles and factional disputes. While Yusuf maintains alliances with some state officials, including the Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly Jibril Ismail Falgore and local government chairmen, others, including the deputy governor and key cabinet members, remain loyal to Kwankwaso.
Former NNPP Kano Chairman Hashimu Dungurawa urged Yusuf to reconsider his defection, emphasizing that his re-election prospects remain strong within NNPP. He warned that leaving the party could create a political vacuum, and that the governor’s supporters are committed to backing his re-election in 2027 under NNPP. The Kwankwassiyya movement is actively pressuring Yusuf to stay, threatening that defection could lead to political fallout, including the resignation of loyalists.
