Barring any last-minute reversal, the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, is preparing to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress in the first week of January 2026.
Sources revealed that the planned defection is likely to bring an abrupt end to nearly forty years of political association between Yusuf and his long-time mentor and political benefactor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
As the only governor elected on the NNPP platform, Yusuf’s move is expected to effectively remove the party from the list of political parties currently in control of any state government in Nigeria.
Insiders stated that the governor has finalised arrangements to fully participate in the APC congresses scheduled for February 2026, in a bid to gain firm control of the party structure in Kano State.
To consolidate his political base, Yusuf is said to have been quietly working to secure the support of members of the National Assembly, the Kano State House of Assembly, and local government chairmen.
“The only member of the House of Representatives I am certain will remain with Kwankwaso is his son-in-law, the member representing Tarauni Federal Constituency,” a source said.
“Those representing Nassarawa, Ungogo and Kumbotso are on the fence and weighing their options.”
It was learnt that at least 25 out of the 27 NNPP members of the Kano State House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Yusuf Falgore, have backed the governor’s planned defection. Two lawmakers are deceased.
Sources further disclosed that although a few local government chairmen still remain loyal to Kwankwaso for now, the majority are expected to eventually follow the governor.
“Many of them are still loyal to Kwankwaso at the moment, but almost all of them will eventually join the governor,” one source said.
As the defection plans intensified, Kwankwaso reportedly convened a meeting with NNPP lawmakers at his Miller Road residence on Friday.
According to sources, Kwankwaso informed the legislators that it had become evident the governor was heading to the APC, and that anyone who wished to follow him was free to do so.
He was said to have questioned the justification for the move, reminding them that they won the 2023 elections despite significant challenges.
“Will the God that gave us power in 2023 not be around in 2027?” Kwankwaso was quoted as asking.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the lawmakers reportedly resolved to seek dialogue with the governor, hoping that any major political decision would be taken collectively.
However, sources stated that when they later attempted to meet Yusuf, he informed them that he was already aware of the outcome of the meeting and that his decision to join the APC was final.
The emerging political realignment is expected to first affect the deputy governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, whose impeachment is said to be imminent.
Insiders revealed that Yusuf is proposing the APC’s 2023 deputy governorship candidate, Murtala Sule-Garo, as Abdulsalam’s replacement.
They also claimed that the APC’s 2023 governorship candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, is being positioned for the Kano Central senatorial ticket in 2027.
The crisis did not arise suddenly. After the Supreme Court ruling on the Kano governorship election, Yusuf reportedly made several efforts to persuade Kwankwaso to join the APC.
In November 2024, reports indicated a widening rift within the Kano NNPP after the governor allegedly began avoiding meetings and telephone calls from his political mentor.
That same year, a political slogan, Abba Tsaya da Kafarka (“Abba, stand on your feet”), gained prominence in Kano, reflecting increasing calls for the governor to assert independence from Kwankwaso.
At the time, Yusuf publicly reaffirmed loyalty to Kwankwaso, dismissed the claims, and distanced himself from the movement.
