Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, has officially defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a major political shift in the state.
Yusuf announced his resignation from the NNPP on Friday, bringing weeks of speculation and growing political uncertainty to an end. His defection comes despite sustained backing from former Kano State governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who played a key role in Yusuf’s emergence as governor.
The move is widely seen as a significant blow to the NNPP in Kano, a state considered the stronghold of the Kwankwasiyya political structure. In recent weeks, tensions had escalated within the state’s political landscape, fueled by internal party disagreements and realignments among key stakeholders.
Sources close to the development said the governor’s decision followed extensive consultations with political allies and traditional leaders, as well as concerns over lingering crises within the NNPP that threatened governance stability in the state.
Reacting to the development, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, formally welcomed Governor Yusuf into the ruling party, describing the defection as a major boost for the APC ahead of future elections.
Ibrahim said Yusuf’s decision to join the APC was an endorsement of the party’s leadership at the federal level and its commitment to delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.
“The governor’s defection further validates the APC’s agenda of inclusive governance and development,” Ibrahim said, adding that the ruling party would provide Yusuf with full support to advance his administration’s programmes in Kano.
Political observers believe Yusuf’s switch could reshape Kano’s power dynamics, especially as preparations gradually begin toward the 2027 general elections. The development is also expected to strengthen the APC’s foothold in the North-West while weakening opposition influence in one of Nigeria’s most politically strategic states.
Meanwhile, loyalists of Kwankwaso and the NNPP are yet to issue an official response, even as reactions continue to trail the governor’s exit from the party that brought him to power.
