Kwankwaso Breaks Silence on Governor Abba's Defection to APC
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has publicly expressed his profound disappointment and emotional distress following the defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In his first media interview since the political split, Kwankwaso described the governor's move as a painful betrayal that has left him and his supporters in a state of shock.
Emotional Reaction to Sudden Political Shift
During an interview with BBC Hausa monitored by Legit.ng, Kwankwaso revealed that he initially struggled to accept the reality of Governor Yusuf's defection. "What happened in Kano is something that still feels like a dream to me. Sometimes I wake up and think it is not real, but the reality is that he has left the NNPP for the APC," Kwankwaso stated. He disclosed that he had traveled to Lagos to avoid escalating tensions in Kano, describing the entire situation as emotionally draining.
The former Kano governor expressed bewilderment at how a political relationship spanning over four decades could collapse so abruptly. "Many people I know have stories about these things. Whether it is me and him or me and them, sometimes I don't even believe what is happening. I keep asking myself what really went wrong," he lamented, adding that only Governor Yusuf and a few close associates likely knew about the defection plan before it became public.
Warning of Political Consequences and Future Regrets
Kwankwaso issued a stern warning that Governor Yusuf and his allies would face significant political challenges within the APC and in future political endeavors. "Even if he does not return, I know that one day, he will regret this decision," Kwankwaso asserted. He emphasized that while he would not resort to violence or further escalate tensions, the Kwankwasiyya movement and its supporters would not forget this betrayal.
The NNPP leader rejected Governor Yusuf's claims that internal crisis within the party forced his defection, insisting that the NNPP remains one of Nigeria's most peaceful and stable political platforms. "There is no party that is more peaceful and stable than the NNPP. If they say there is crisis, let them wait until congresses and conventions. That is where you will see real conflict," Kwankwaso countered.
Accusation of Mandate Handover to Gandujiyya Movement
Kwankwaso accused Governor Yusuf of effectively handing over the mandate of Kano people and NNPP supporters to what he described as the "Gandujiyya movement" led by former Kano governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje. He expressed confusion about how Yusuf could take such a step after benefiting from the Kwankwasiyya political structure for years. "When I lie down, I ask myself: What happened? Was it me? Was it the party? Was it the members? I cannot find the answer," he said.
The NNPP leader pointed to the moment when Ganduje publicly accepted Yusuf into the APC and raised his hand as evidence that the decision had been long concluded. "If Ganduje wanted to raise his hand, he would have done so in 2019 or in 2023. From the moment Ganduje raised Abba's hand now, it showed that he had already said yes," Kwankwaso observed.
Strategic Regrouping and Future of Kwankwasiyya
Despite the setback, Kwankwaso revealed that the Kwankwasiyya movement and the NNPP are already working on strategies to regroup and strengthen their political structure, not just in Kano but across Nigeria. He maintained that Kano remains a strong base for the NNPP and that the movement is focused on uniting forces to address Nigeria's current political and economic challenges.
Kwankwaso issued a warning to those who left the NNPP but still claim to represent the Kwankwasiyya ideology, insisting that true Kwankwasiyya cannot exist outside the movement. "I say light has been built and darkness has been built in Kano. If you want to do Kwankwasiyya, who told you to leave Kwankwasiyya? Stand with us and do Kwankwasiyya where it truly belongs," he declared. He predicted that those who joined the APC would eventually lose their political identity and be absorbed into the Ganduje-led structure.
Background and Political Significance
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf officially rejoined the APC on Monday, January 26, 2026, after announcing his resignation from the NNPP on Friday, January 23. This move came less than three years after he won the Kano governorship election on the NNPP platform. At his formal return to the APC, Yusuf cited the direction of Nigerian politics and the need to align Kano State with the federal government to attract development as reasons for his decision.
Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso remains one of northern Nigeria's most influential politicians, particularly among youth. Political analysts note that since the era of Malam Aminu Kano, no northern politician has built a personal political ideology with a following as strong as Kwankwasiyya, whose supporters are distinguished by their red caps. Kwankwaso previously served two terms as Kano governor and made a historic political comeback after losing re-election, returning four years later to defeat the outgoing administration's candidate.
In the 2023 presidential election, Kwankwaso ran on the NNPP platform and secured over 900,000 votes in Kano State alone—the highest number of votes recorded by any presidential candidate in a single state during that election, including candidates from the ruling APC. This demonstrates the significant political weight he continues to wield in Nigerian politics despite recent setbacks.
