The political tension between Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has deepened following reports that the governor is set to defect from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Despite Kwankwaso’s public appeals urging Yusuf to reconsider, close aides to the governor insist that the decision has already been made and cannot be reversed. According to one aide who spoke to Daily Trust, the planned defection is not merely a Kano State political calculation but a move being handled at the highest level of national politics.
For over a week, the anticipated defection has dominated political conversations in Kano, with earlier speculation suggesting January 5 as the announcement date. However, sources clarified that no specific date has been fixed, noting that Governor Yusuf is still consulting widely to avoid disruptions to governance and political stability in the state.
There were also reports that arrangements had been made for Yusuf to be formally registered into the APC at the party’s national headquarters under its new online membership drive. Those plans were reportedly suspended after advice that the governor should first meet key APC figures in Kano, including former governor and ex-APC national chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as well as Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.
But an aide to the governor dismissed such claims as speculation.
“No date has ever been fixed. What is certain is that the decision is irreversible and will be announced once everything is fully in place,” the source said, adding that the defection is not dependent on consultations with Kano APC leaders.
“This is not a Kano affair. It is a presidency affair. The discussions are between the governor and the president, or those delegated by the party’s national leadership.”
Still, the aide acknowledged that Yusuf is engaging stakeholders to carry along his NNPP loyalists while avoiding internal tension within the APC.
Why Yusuf Is Headed to the APC
According to the governor’s camp, the move is driven more by governance concerns than personal ambition. While political survival is a factor, aides argue that the NNPP no longer offers a viable platform for Yusuf’s re-election.
“The party exists largely on paper,” the source said, adding that the governor’s priority is to position Kano to attract stronger federal support.
Kano, Nigeria’s most populous state with over 22 million residents, faces enormous infrastructural and security challenges. Despite a ₦1.47 trillion budget, the state cannot independently fund several mega projects.
One example cited is the Wujuwuju project initiated during Kwankwaso’s administration. Although the federal government has intervened with ₦47 billion, over ₦100 billion is now required to complete it following cost variations.
Insecurity is another major concern. With banditry worsening, the governor’s aides argue that stronger alignment with the federal government is crucial to enhance coordination with national security agencies.
The internal crisis within the NNPP and the growing rift between Yusuf and Kwankwaso have also played a decisive role. The aide claimed that Kwankwaso had already resolved not to support Yusuf’s second-term ambition, making the governor’s continued stay in the party untenable.
Kwankwaso Pushes Back
Kwankwaso has openly opposed Yusuf’s reported defection, confirming a fallout between them while addressing supporters in Kano. Though he said he does not support the move, he admitted that the governor may still go ahead.
“We don’t want them to go. We want them to stay. But if they insist, life will go on,” he said.
He criticised those encouraging the defection, arguing that they should have also advised Yusuf to relinquish his mandate before moving to the APC. Kwankwaso described it as painful to take an electoral victory to a rival party—particularly one associated with Ganduje.
Kwankwaso also revisited his political history with Yusuf, reminding supporters that he personally selected him as governorship candidate in 2019 and backed him again in 2023, when Yusuf defeated the APC candidate to become governor.
While dismissing claims that the NNPP is weak or fractured, Kwankwaso revealed that the APC and the federal government had approached him but failed to present convincing proposals. He stressed that his movement is bigger than personal ambition and must serve the interests of its supporters nationwide.
However, he did not rule out joining another party—provided he is guaranteed a presidential or vice-presidential ticket.
That position aligns with earlier Daily Trust reports suggesting ongoing talks around a possible opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections, including a proposed alliance involving Peter Obi under the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
If nothing changes, Kwankwaso may yet chart a new political course—just as his long-time ally appears ready to do the same.
Adapted from a report by Clement A. Oloyede, Daily Trust
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