Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has made his first public appearance in over a week, even as rumours of his planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) continue to swirl. The governor surfaced at a graduation and empowerment ceremony in Kano on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Key Kwankwaso Loyalists Boycott Governor's Event
The event, held at the Open Space Theatre within the Government House, was notably missing several key political figures loyal to the former governor and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Among the prominent absentees were the NNPP state chairman, Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, and the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Other senior officials who did not attend included the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Yusuf Kofar Mata, the Commissioner for Internal Security, AVM Ibrahim Umar (rtd), and the Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa. Their collective absence was widely interpreted as a clear political statement distancing the Kwankwasiyya movement's core from Governor Yusuf.
In contrast, the ceremony was attended by several commissioners, local government chairmen, lawmakers, and appointees perceived to be aligned with Governor Yusuf. The governor himself avoided making any direct political statements during the event, which was for 2,260 beneficiaries of state-run institutes in film, poultry, livestock, and other vocations.
Tensions Flare as Grassroots Warn Against Betrayal
Despite the formal proceedings, underlying tensions were palpable. Groups of supporters stationed at the theatre entrance expressed visible anger over the ongoing political crisis. A leader from one such group issued a stark warning to any defectors, as reported by Daily Trust: "Whoever among them comes here will live to remember what we will do to him. They dare not come here, betrayers."
This sentiment underscores the deep emotional loyalty Kwankwaso commands at the grassroots level, a base he has been actively consolidating. In recent days, he has received delegations from ward-level structures, youth organisations, and local mobilisers who have reaffirmed their allegiance to the Kwankwasiyya movement and its populist ideology.
A Clash of Loyalties and Political Calculations
Political observers note that the situation presents a classic clash between grassroots political loyalty and the pragmatism of governance. While Senator Kwankwaso retains the fervent support of the party's base, Governor Yusuf appears to have secured the backing of a majority of elected and appointed officials in the state, leveraging control over the state's machinery and resources.
The governor's camp is believed to be motivated by the need for broader political alliances at the federal level to attract projects and funding to Kano State. This strategic thinking is fueled by internal NNPP court battles, which Kano lawmakers have warned make the party politically unsafe for the governor and other elected officials to remain in, citing the precedent of a Supreme Court ruling that cost a party its victories in Zamfara State.
The political realignment is unfolding under tight security. A heavy deployment of police and DSS personnel, including at least seven Armoured Personnel Carriers, was observed at the Kano State Government House earlier on Monday, with access strictly controlled. As the state positions itself ahead of the 2027 general elections, the divide between the Kwankwasiyya movement's heart and the seat of administrative power in Kano grows ever more distinct.
