Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s planned defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has emerged as one of Kano’s most talked about political puzzles, following growing uncertainty around the move.
The defection, which was earlier scheduled for the first week of January 2026, was shifted to January 12, 2026, but has again been stalled as the governor continues consultations with National Assembly members, state legislators and key figures within the ruling party, amid stern warnings from his political godfather and 2023 presidential candidate of the NNPP, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
The delay has been linked to the deepening split within the NNPP and to the governor’s stringent demands from his prospective new party.
Governor Yusuf’s tough demand
A source familiar with the unfolding political developments in Kano State said the governor has insisted on an automatic ticket for the 2027 governorship election as a condition for joining the APC.
According to the source, the top leadership of the ruling party has been unable to grant the request, pending President Bola Tinubu’s return from a foreign trip.
“The governor does not want to blindly join the APC and then later have people like the former national chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje coming up with their own anointed candidate.
“You know that immediately he joins the party, he will stop enjoying the support he gets from His Excellency Rabiu Kwankwaso so if he doesn’t have the support of people like Ganduje or Kwankwaso, 2027 is going to be very tough for him.
“But if Kwankwaso had agreed to also follow the governor to APC, the whole thing would have been easier for the governor but Kwankwaso himself is not ready to move to APC, at least not yet.
“Now that Mr President is back to Nigeria, things will become clearer in the coming days, hopefully, the governor’s request will be granted but mind you, he is not the only governor seeking re election,” the source said.
Split in NNPP
Before the governor’s decision to consider dumping the party widely regarded as one of the fastest growing political platforms in the country, a cold war had already erupted within the party leadership.
The internal crisis reportedly began with a controversial change of the party’s logo, as the Kwankwaso led faction replaced the basket of fruits with a book and graduation cap.
The governor’s camp, however, insisted that the previous logo must be retained.
The disagreement triggered legal battles that have since thrown the party into uncertainty and deepened internal fragmentation.
While the governor has the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Hon Jibril Ismail Falgore, some local government chairmen and a number of lawmakers in his camp, the deputy governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, and several members of the state cabinet remain loyal to Kwankwaso.
Remain in our party, no clear road in APC – NNPP former Chairman
In an interview, the immediate past Chairman of NNPP in Kano State, Hashimu Dungurawa, urged the governor to shelve his planned defection.
Dungurawa warned that while Governor Yusuf’s re election under the NNPP is assured, the path would not be clear for him if he defects to the APC.
“It is still my prayer that the governor doesn’t leave our party because leaving the party will cause a lot of vacuum that will be difficult to fill.
“Staying with NNPP will help him because where he is going is a camp of his enemies.
“We are here supporting him in the NNPP, nobody is fighting him and there is nobody that is not wishing him well.
“If he remains in our party, he will automatically return as governor for his second term. There is no clear road in where he is going so the best thing for him is to remain with us.
“Definitely, we will all work for his victory in 2027 if he remains in our party. I don’t see any reason why he should be jumping to another when he is comfortable where he is.
“In 2027, NNPP is going to defeat the so called APC and PDP in Kano State.”
Governor Yusuf under pressure to remain in NNPP
Pressure has continued to mount from Kwankwaso’s supporters, known as the Kwankwasiyya Movement, to stop the governor from aligning with the APC.
The pressure has been accompanied by warnings that the governor will face serious political consequences in 2027 if he ignores the appeals.
It was also gathered that Hon Mustapha Kwankwaso, the first son of the NNPP leader, and other cabinet members loyal to Kwankwaso, will immediately resign their positions if the governor formally defects to the APC.
