In a seismic shift for Nigeria's political landscape, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, is reportedly on the verge of leaving the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP). Multiple sources indicate the governor is plotting a move to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a strategic calculation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Imminent Defection and Strategic Calculations
According to credible political insiders, the defection is imminent and could be finalized as early as the first week of January 2026, barring any last-minute changes. This move would significantly weaken the NNPP, which secured Kano State in the 2023 polls with Governor Yusuf as its sole elected governor nationwide.
Insiders disclosed that Governor Yusuf has concluded wide consultations with key stakeholders, including members of the Kano State House of Assembly, local government chairmen, and federal lawmakers. A source familiar with the discussions confirmed the governor has "made up his mind to leave the NNPP" and is prepared to proceed even without the explicit endorsement of his political mentor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Grassroots Momentum and Public Declarations
Momentum for the switch gained public traction over the past weekend following the circulation of viral videos. In these clips, senior government officials and grassroots leaders declared their support for joining the APC.
In one notable video, the Governor's Director of Protocol, Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, announced that political leaders in Rogo Local Government Area had resolved to follow Yusuf. "We at Rogo Local Government... have resolved that Kwankwaso is our leader and that he and Governor Yusuf should take us to APC. This resolution is in the best interest of our people," Rogo stated.
He stressed loyalty to the Kwankwasiyya movement but argued that moving to the APC was "the solution for now." Similarly, the Director-General of Media and Publicity at the Kano Government House, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, publicly endorsed his local government caucus's decision to follow the governor to the APC.
Kwankwaso's Acknowledgement and an "Irreversible" Decision
Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP's national leader, reportedly convened a meeting with the party's lawmakers in Kano on Friday, December 27th. During this meeting, he acknowledged the governor's preparations to defect. He told legislators that anyone willing to follow the governor was free to do so, though he questioned the rationale behind the move.
"Will the God that gave us power in 2023 not be around in 2027?" Kwankwaso was quoted as asking. However, when lawmakers later met Governor Yusuf for clarification, they were informed that his decision to defect to the APC was "irreversible."
This impending defection sets the stage for a significant reconfiguration of political forces in Kano, a key battleground state. Analysts suggest the arrival of Yusuf and potentially Kwankwaso into the APC would pose immediate questions about the control of the party's structure in the state, currently influenced by former governor and APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
