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Tag: Abba Kabir Yusuf

  • The dynamics of Kano governor’s defection

    The dynamics of Kano governor’s defection

    The Permutations:

    There are new political and power dynamics in Kano State, as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf defects from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Kwankwasiya group to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). As we count down to the 2027 general elections in Nigeria, the days and months ahead will be very interesting. However, even though this is a win for the APC, but due to the sophisticated nature of Kano politics, it is not over until it’s over!

    Essentially, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso a former Governor of Kano State and the national leader of the Kwankwasiya group has overreached. So, obviously, the die is cast. He has lost his key political godson, who, coincidentally, is his son-in-law, to his political arch-enemy, former governor Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and APC. In my view, this type of politics of sense of entitlement of the political class, and the vicious cycle of transactional political godfatherism in Nigeria is timing out. For instance, we are witnessing what is playing out, which is at a crescendo in Rivers state. We are witnessing what is happening in Kano state. Not long ago, we saw what played out between Governor Uba Sani, and his predecessor, Governor Nasir El- Rufa’i.

    This is a lesson for political players that sometimes you need to play the long game. And indeed, for those that have the stay power in politics, they play for the long game.

    Potential Implications:

    However, with this development, trouble is waiting to happen amongst the political titans within the APC in Kano State.  This trouble has been brewing subliminally before the arrival of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. Power brokers like a former Governor of Kano State and immediate past National Chairman or the APC Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who was hitherto the leader of the APC in Kano State; the Deputy Senate President of the Federation, Senator Barau Jibrin, who has been nursing the ambition and has been investing heavily to emerge as the APC Governorship candidate l  to contest against Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, and other political juggernauts in Kano he already been scheming for supremacy build to the APC congresses. Therefore, it will be interesting to see how these strange bedfellows will fully align with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who has practically no political structure, especially build up to the upcoming  ward, state, regional, and national Congresses and Convention.

    Kano State politics is peculiar. The fact that Mr. President intervened is true. The fact that the Convention will play a role is true. But as you come down the political structure, the disposition and the consciousness is not the same. The cunningness of the politicians iand voters, including those ones that Mr. President has marshalled, is different. They will go in the night and say, do this.”Shebi” it’s the President. I want to hold on to what he’s given me. But when the day is cast and it’s too late, everybody will answer his name.

    The litmus test for his excellency Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf will start having is during the upcoming APC Congress. Because that is when he will start setting up his own political structure. Even though the APC stalwarts may like to “donate” or “rent” their structure for Governor Abba Kabir in the interest winning the elections for President Tinubu and the APC, none of the APC political gladiators is ready to remain political subordinated for the next five, six years.

    Therefore what remains to be seen is if the APC political titans will be 100% loyal to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. What also remains to be seen if of the Kwankwasiya structure that Governor Abba has taken to APC will get a strong holding within in the APC. Or if they return to the NNPP if they do not feel full accommodated in APC. Or if they will remain in the APC and sabotage the APC at the critical time of elections.  This is because the Kano APC is it constituted now is a conglomeration of sworn and bitter political enemies whose rivalry and long term interests are hardly negotiable. Of course in the face value, the words of President Tinubu may sink in and be effective only for a while. But the political gladiators know that the current arrangement only serves the interest of Mr. President, while their respective mid to long term political structures and ambitions are in jeopardy. This is especially so given the fact that the 2027 general elections will determine the political structures and future of these politicians.

    Furthermore, it is clear that Governor Abba Kabir’s defection to the APC is for self preservation and to consolidate his quest for second term in office which is not really guaranteed even with the defection to the APC. This is because, the Kwankwasiya movement is still solid at the grassroots level in Kano. Whoever underestimates or overlooks the love for the Kwankwasiya movement under the leadership of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso is doing so at his own peril! Indeed the masses love Senator Kwankwaso and if anything the defection of Governor Abba Kabir has triggered more attention and sympathy for Senator Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiya movement.

    Meanwhile, it is worthy of note that , due to the alleged overbearing influence of Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso on Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, a few months into the administration of Governor Abba Yusuf, the protagonists, started a mantra in Kano, saying, “Abba tsaya da kafafunka”, or “Abba tsaya da kanka” , meaning, “Abba Kabir, stand on your feet” (Abba be independent). And that mantra was the beginning of what we have seen that has happened today. Consequently, some members of the cabinet of governor Abba Kabir who were also members of the NNPP and the Kwankwasiya movement, including, the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Abdullahi Baffa Bichi, started moving away to the APC, claiming  that there is an overbearing hold on the governor by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Further down the line, that continued to crystallise. And, obviously, like I said in my opening remarks earlier, this is a typical template of godfatherism,  playing out between a godson and godfather.

    Well, having done that now, Governor Abba Kabir was able to use this opportunity of his bosse’s overbearing influence, and at the same time, his overreaching with regards to the political dynamics at the national level.

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    It’s not over until it’s over!:

    The defection of Governor Abba Kabir from the NNPP to the APC has certainly dealt a blow on Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso’s political structure- the Kwankwasiya movement, in the short term. However, it is highly likely that in the mid to long term, Senator Rabi’u  Musa Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiya movement could resurge stronger, far as potentially Kano state politics is concerned, if anything. This is especially so if we go back to history. Kano politicians and voters are masters of this protest vote game we play.

    Let remind us of what happened during the 1991 Gubernatorial elections in Kano State between when the Gubernatorial candidate of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, late Engineer, Magaji Abdullahi, and the Gubernatorial candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC), Arc.  Kabiru Ibrahlm Gaya. Members of the two factions of the defunct Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)  were members of the SDP. The PRP had two factions: the faction loyal to late Mallam Aminu Kano, the former national leader of the PRP, that we call the “Tabo” group, and the faction loyal to late Alhaki Abubakar Rimi, a former governor of Kano State. This is akin to what we have now in the APC in Kano state, and with governor Abba Kabir group and the APC team under the leadership of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje which is know in Kano as the “Gandujiya”.  group. When push came to shove, and late Engr. Magaji of the PRP “Tabo” faction emerged as the SDP Governorship candidate, the “Santsi” group kept quiet. But during the election, guess what they did? The “Santsi” faction and their supporters, in protest gave their votes  to the NRC candidate, and that is how Arc. Kabiru Ibrahlm Gaya emerged as the governor of Kano State. This political calculus, is typical of Kano politics notwithstanding Presidential intervention or interference or directive.

    All being said, how Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf continues to deliver the dividends of democracy to the masses in Kano state between now and 2027 and beyond, will determine how the massive Kwankwasiya movement will sway in terms of voting pattern. Now we have seen how the political elites in the cabinet of governor Abba Kabir have moved to the APC.  What is important to note is that the defections have not significantly impacted the value of the Kwankwasiya at the grassroots, What remains to be seen is how it plays out in the voting pattern.

  • Yusuf lifts families of deceased soldiers, vigilante with N25m

    Yusuf lifts families of deceased soldiers, vigilante with N25m

    The Kano State Government has presented ₦5 million each to the families of four military personnel and a vigilante who lost their lives in the line of duty in Shanono Local Government Area of the state.

    The cheques were presented by Major General Sani Mohammed (Rtd), Director General of Special Services, on behalf of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, at the 3 Brigade Nigerian Army Headquarters in Kano.

    The cheques were presented to the family members of the Nigerian Army Personnel, one personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and the spouse of a vigilante.

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    “The presentation is in honour of 3 NA personnel, a NAF soldier and a vigilante who paid the supreme price in the battle between November 2025 and January 2026.

    “I will not forget the sacrifices made by the fallen heroes. They remain super heroes and their sacrifice in defending lives and property would never be forgotten.

    “The government will not compensate them enough for their sacrifices to the country, nevertheless, we will continue to pursue the welfare of those in the battle front and the families of the deceased, while strengthening cooperation with security agencies to curb banditry and other criminal activities in the State,” the governor said.

    The Commander of 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Tukur, welcomed the support, saying it boosts morale.

    Beneficiaries, including Lance Corporal Yusuf Jibril, thanked the government for the compensation, pledging to use it for the welfare of the bereaved families.

  • Yusuf lifts families of deceased soldiers, vigilante with N25 million

    Yusuf lifts families of deceased soldiers, vigilante with N25 million

    The Kano State Government has presented ₦5 million each to the families of four military personnel and a vigilante who died in the line of duty in Shanono Local Government Area..

    The cheques were presented by Major General Sani Mohammed (Rtd), Director General of Special Services, on behalf of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, at the 3 Brigade Nigerian Army Headquarters in Kano.

    The cheques were presented to the family members of the Nigerian Army Personnel, one personnel of the Nigerian Air Force and the spouse of a vigilante.

    “The presentation is in honour of 3 NA personnel, a NAF soldier and a vigilante who paid the supreme price in the battle between November 2025 and January 2026.

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    “I will not forget the sacrifices made by the fallen heroes. They remain super heroes and their sacrifice in defending lives and property would never be forgotten.

    “The government will not compensate them enough for their sacrifices to the country, nevertheless, we will continue to pursue the welfare of those in the battle front and the families of the deceased, while strengthening cooperation with security agencies to curb banditry and other criminal activities in the State,” the Governor said.

    The Commander of 3 Brigade Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ahmed Tukur, welcomed the support, saying it boosts morale.

    Beneficiaries, including Lance Corporal Yusuf Jibril, thanked the government for the compensation, pledging to use it for the welfare of the bereaved families.

  • Yusuf’s defection will catapult Kano’s development – France APC

    Yusuf’s defection will catapult Kano’s development – France APC

    The Chairperson of France chapter, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajia Amina Suzuki, has predicted that the defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf to the ruling party would catapult the state to greater heights.

    Commending the governor’s action in a statement in Abuja as timely and courageous, Suzuki said the move was in the best interest of Kano state and Nigeria at large.

    Suzuki said the governor’s defection was a deep commitment to progressive governance, national unity, and alignment with the ruling party’s vision of inclusive development under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

    According to her, “Governor Yusuf’s decision to join the APC will further strengthen the party’s political base in Kano state and enhance collaboration between the state and the federal government, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, economic growth, security, and social development.

    “This bold step by His Excellency, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, demonstrates statesmanship and a clear understanding of the current political realities in Nigeria. By joining the APC, the governor has positioned Kano state to benefit more from federal initiatives and people-oriented policies of the Tinubu administration,” Hajia she  stated.

    She noted that the APC, as a progressive party, remains open and accommodating to leaders who share its ideology and commitment to service, adding that the governor’s entry into the party would foster unity among stakeholders and supporters across Kano state.

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    The APC leader then assured Governor Yusuf of the full support of APC members in the diaspora, particularly the France Chapter, stressing that Nigerians abroad are keenly interested in political developments at home and remain committed to the growth and stability of the party.

    “We in the APC France Chapter welcome Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf with open arms. His defection is not just a gain for the APC but a victory for democracy and good governance in Kano State,” she added.

    While urging party members in Kano and across the country to rally around the governor to ensure sustained peace, unity, and effective governance, the APC chieftain also commended Kano APC leaders for the warm welcome extended to the Governor. 

    She, however, expressed confidence that the APC would emerge stronger and more united ahead of future political engagements, not only in Kano state but across the nation.

  • Yusuf, Kano politics and national integration

    Yusuf, Kano politics and national integration

    By Gloria Fraser

    Kano State has long occupied a unique place in Nigeria’s political imagination. As the most electorally significant state in the North-West and one of the country’s most politically engaged societies, Kano’s voting choices often carry implications far beyond its borders.

    This is why reports suggesting that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may be moving toward alignment with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have generated strong reactions — including claims that such a decision would be a “big mistake” because Kano, historically, is said to be “predominantly opposition.”

    Yet a closer reading of Kano’s political history suggests something more complex, and far more pragmatic: Kano is not ideologically committed to opposition. Kano is strategically committed to relevance, bargaining power, and local political ownership.

    The idea that Kano must always resist the party at the centre may be rhetorically appealing. But it is not supported by the full record of Nigerian electoral history.

    Beyond the Opposition Label.

    Critics often point to Kano’s support for NEPU in the First Republic, and the PRP in the Second Republic, as evidence that the state has always leaned opposition. There is no doubt that Kano did, at key moments, vote differently from the dominant northern establishment of those eras.

    But NEPU and PRP were not simply “opposition parties” in today’s sense. They were deeply indigenous movements rooted in Kano’s urban populism, anti-feudal sentiment, and local class politics.

    In other words, Kano’s choices were less a rejection of the centre, and more an assertion of identity — a desire to back platforms that expressed Kano’s internal political temperament and social aspirations.

    Kano was not voting against national power as a doctrine. Kano was voting for itself.

    A State That Has Backed the Centre When It Suits.

    Perhaps the most damaging flaw in the “permanent opposition” argument is that Kano has, in modern democratic history, overwhelmingly supported the ruling party at the centre when conditions aligned.

    In 2015 and even more decisively in 2019, Kano became one of the APC’s strongest electoral pillars.

    In the 2019 presidential election, Muhammadu Buhari won Kano with more than 1.46 million votes, representing over 77 per cent of the total.

    That was not opposition politics. That was Kano voting massively for the sitting president and the ruling national party.

    This single fact complicates any claim that Kano “never purposefully leaned toward the centre.”

    It has. And it did so emphatically.

    Kano Votes Structure and Ownership, Not Opposition Romance.

    The 2023 elections are often cited as Kano’s “return” to opposition, following the victory of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the state.

    But even this requires more careful interpretation.

    Kano did not simply vote for a fringe opposition platform. Kano voted for the Kwankwasiyya movement — a political identity with deep grassroots structure and emotional resonance.

    The NNPP’s strength was less about party ideology and more about political ownership: a feeling that Kano had found a vehicle that belonged to its internal political machinery, rather than one imposed from outside.

    As one political observer in Kano noted privately at the time, “The party was secondary. The movement was primary.”

    This is not unusual in Kano. Political labels often matter less than the networks beneath them.

    Adaptation, Not Permanence.

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    Over the decades, Kano has shifted through multiple political alignments: NEPU, PRP, PDP, ANPP, APC, NNPP.

    Such fluidity is not evidence of ideological opposition.

    It is evidence of adaptability — the hallmark of a politically sophisticated electorate.

    A truly opposition-locked state does not deliver landslide victories to a ruling president in one cycle, and then switch to a regional movement in another. Kano does both, depending on circumstance.

    The Myth of Electoral Impossibility.

    Perhaps the most sweeping claim made by critics is that the APC cannot simultaneously win Kano and win nationally — that Kano must always vote against whoever holds power in Abuja.

    This is not grounded in political reality.

    Elections are shaped by measurable variables:

    candidate appeal; elite cohesion; grassroots mobilisation; performance in office; economic pressures; security dynamics; and federal-state relationships.

    There is no mystical law that Kano must oppose the centre.

    As the late British statesman Harold Macmillan once observed, “Politics is a matter of realities, not illusions.”

    Kano’s politics, above all, is a politics of realities.

    Federal Alignment and Development Incentives.

    Nigeria’s contemporary political economy has increasingly made federal alignment a practical consideration for many states.

    Access to major infrastructure partnerships, security coordination, industrial revival programmes and strategic appointments often flows more efficiently through cooperative centre-state relations.

    Neighbouring North-Western states such as Kaduna and Katsina have benefited from sustained federal attention partly because of political synchronisation with the centre.

    For Kano — Nigeria’s commercial hub of the North — the incentives of full federal integration are substantial.

    Supporters of Governor Yusuf’s potential APC move argue that Kano cannot indefinitely afford political distance from the centre if it seeks mega-projects, industrial expansion, enhanced security architecture, and sustained fiscal cooperation.

    In this sense, alignment is not surrender — it is strategy.

    Governor Yusuf’s Calculation: Risk, But Not Necessarily Error.

    Would joining the APC automatically guarantee victory in 2027? No.

    Would it automatically guarantee defeat? No.

    It would be a high-stakes recalibration — one that could succeed if matched by tangible governance outcomes and careful party integration.

    If Governor Yusuf moves with significant legislative backing, institutional cohesion, and visible federal dividends, Kano’s electorate is pragmatic enough to follow.

    But if the shift is viewed as elite manoeuvring without clear developmental benefit, Kano’s politically conscious electorate could respond harshly.

    Kano rewards strength. Kano punishes emptiness.

    A Politics of Negotiation, Not Opposition.

    The enduring truth about Kano is not that it is “predominantly opposition.”

    The truth is that Kano is predominantly power-conscious.

    It votes for relevance. It votes for ownership. It votes for political structures that can deliver both pride and progress.

    Governor Yusuf’s possible alignment with the ruling party may therefore not be a historical mistake, but an attempt to position Kano at the heart of national development bargaining ahead of 2027.

    In Kano, the centre is not automatically rejected.

    The centre is negotiated.

    And the outcome will depend not on mythology, but on performance.

    The National Patriots Movement notes that Kano’s full integration with the federal centre is not a surrender of identity, but a strategic pathway to accelerated development. As Nigeria’s commercial nerve of the North, Kano stands to gain from deeper synergy with Abuja in infrastructure, security coordination, and industrial growth. Sustainable progress often follows cooperative governance, not permanent political distance.

    •Fraser is an official of The National Patriots.

  • Kano Governor Yusuf picks APC card today

    Kano Governor Yusuf picks APC card today

    • Ruling party receives Governor Mutfwang in Jos tomorrow

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will enlarge its coast today as it registers Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as its member.

    Also tomorrow, the ruling party will receive Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang into its fold at a defection rally in Jos, the state capital.

    Yusuf, who resigned from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) last week, will pick the membership card at a brief ceremony in the Kano Government House. Kano, the state capital.

    No fewer than 22 members of the House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives and 44 local government chairmen are expected to be registered along with the governor.

    The governor, who automatically becomes the state APC leader, is also expected to launch the party’s e-registration.

    It is a home-coming of sorts for the governor, who won the 2015 Kano Central senatorial ticket of the APC before defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) along with his estranged leader, Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso.

    Yusuf said in a statement by his media aide, Sunusi Bature, that prevailing realities of governance, national cohesion and development necessitated his return to the ruling party.

    He described APC as a familiar and structured platform for progressive governance, stressing that his return to the party would further strengthen cooperation with the Federal Government, accelerate infrastructural development, enhance security coordination and improve service delivery across Kano State.

    The governor added that the decision would consolidate political stability and unity in the state.

    The defection is generating ripples across the state.

    While a party chieftain, Ahmed Dankabo, described it as a defining moment in Kano politics,the deputy governor, Aminu Gwarzo, who reiterated his loyalty to Kwankwaso, insisted that he won’t defect.

    Also, the Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovation, Yusuf Kofarmata, protested the defection by resigning his appointment.

    Read Also: APC chieftain hails Gov Yusuf’s defection as turning point for Kano politics

    Dankabo, a member of the 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, told reporters in Abuja,  the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that said the ultimate beneficiaries of the governor’s defection are the people of Kano State.

    He said the mass defection underscored the confidence of the people in reform agenda of the Tinubu administration.

    He said: “The decision of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to defect from the NNPP to the APC is not just a political move; it is a defining moment in the political history of Kano State.

    “This single action has triggered a political tsunami across the state, with citizens from all walks of life embracing the APC. In fact, Kano State is turning 360 degrees to the APC.

    “Kano State has effectively turned in a new direction politically. The momentum on the ground is overwhelming, and it is evident that the people see the APC as the vehicle for stability, development, and meaningful engagement with the centre.

    “I congratulate Governor Abba Gida-Gida, his exco, legislators, and grassroots leaders for this bold and strategic move. This is a major political milestone not only for Kano State but for Nigeria’s democratic evolution under the Fourth Republic.”

     Dankabo said the defection has repositioned Kano from the political periphery to the centre of national political and economic decision-making.

    He added: “For too long, Kano operated outside the core of national power dynamics. This alignment with the ruling party has now restored the state to its rightful place at the centre of national discourse and development planning.”

    Dankabo expressed optimism that the state stands to gain significantly from the closer collaboration with the Federal Government.

    He stressed: “Even while Kano was in the opposition, the state benefitted from several federal appointments and projects under President Tinubu’s administration. Now that Kano is fully aligned with the centre under our great party, the APC, the opportunities and benefits before the state are limitless.

    “This decision is about the future of Kano State. It is about accelerated development, increased federal presence, and a stronger voice at the national level. The people of Kano are the real winners.”

    Kano in political turmoil, says ex-commissioner

    Kofarmata, in his letter of resignation, said he quit because of the state’s “prevailing political turmoil,” adding that the current political climate threatens the independence and impartiality essential to his role in the state executive council.

    He said that the credibility of his office hinged on its ability to function free from external interference.

    Kofarmata said: “The integrity of the state commissioner’s role rests on the ability to act without undue influence, partisan pressure, or divided allegiance. Remaining in office under such conditions could erode public confidence in the institution.

    “The growing atmosphere of tension and expectations of loyalty and allegiance could create the perception—or reality—of compromised judgement. Such a scenario is fundamentally “inconsistent with the ethical standards of a State Commissioner.

    “My decision to step aside is taken in the interest of safeguarding the credibility of the office and preserving my personal commitment to ethical public service.”

    ‘Defecting from NNPP painful, but strategic’

    Three former NNPP national officers yesterday said the defection was painful, but strategic.

    Former National Chairman, Prof. Ahmed Rufai Alkali, former National Organising Secretary, Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi and former National Legal Adviser, Prof. Ben Angwe said in a joint statement that it was not beyond expectation.

    According to them, the governor had refused to be trapped by an internal disorder.

    In the statement titled: “We have been vindicated” the three former officers who had also left the NNPP, praised Yusuf for leaving NNPP.

    It reads: “In politics, we have learnt loyalty is often praised, but foresight is rarely celebrated until it is proven right. Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf’s decision to exit the NNPP and align with the APC has triggered predictable outrage, undiluted anger and a crisis of denial among those who mistook noise for wisdom.

    “Yet, strip of all emotions and pretentious, the move was neither sudden nor surprising. It was not only inevitable, but it was inevitably inevitable. As always in life, some decisions test character, others test courage, but Governor Kabir Yusuf’s move tested both.

    “For those of us who were privileged to have been witnesses to the long uncertain and often chaotic situations leading to the build-up to the 2023 elections, the Implosion of the Kano faction of the NNPP was never a matter of if, but when.

    “To all discerning minds and close watchers of the dynamics of politics, the warning signs were everywhere. A party built more on sentiments than realities, in personalities rather than institutions, and on personal loyalty instead of legitimate organisational discipline will hardly escape from internal crisis and conflicts. Indeed, such fragile artificial and ad-hoc arrangements do not endure. Certainly, they do not last long. They expire and they explode, often with a bang.

    Yusuf betrayed me, says Kwankwaso

    Kwankwaso expressed disappointment over the defection, saying that Yusuf betrayed him.

    He declared January 23, the day the governor left NNPP, as “World Betrayal Day.”

    Kwankwaso had previously pleaded with Yusuf to remain in the opposition party, warning that the hard-fought mandate of the people of Kano should not be handed over to political rivals.

    He accused the Kano State government of forcing officials and elected local government chairmen to sign documents indicating their defection to the APC.

    However, Kwankwaso’s reaction is ironic, given his own history of switching parties and asserting independence from political mentors.

    In 2014, he defected from the PDP to the APC, and later, from the APC to the PDP in 2018.

  • NNPP crisis: Kano governor’s defection was inevitable — Former party leaders

    NNPP crisis: Kano governor’s defection was inevitable — Former party leaders

    Three former National Officers of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have described the defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, as the most difficult yet strategically necessary decision of his political career.

    In a joint statement issued on Sunday, former National Chairman, Prof. Ahmed Rufai Alkali; former National Organising Secretary, Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi; and former National Legal Adviser, Prof. Ben Angwe said the governor’s exit from the party was long anticipated.

    According to them, it was never a question of whether Yusuf would leave the NNPP, but rather the exact time. 

    They argued that the governor acted as a pragmatic politician who refused to be constrained by what they described as a deteriorating internal structure, merely to satisfy the sentimental expectations of political mentors and opportunists.

    In the statement titled “We Have Been Vindicated,” the trio—who exited the party before the current crisis—said the unfolding turmoil within the NNPP was a development they had foreseen long ago.

    The statement read, “In politics, we have learnt loyalty is often praised, but foresight is rarely celebrated until it is proven right. Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf’s decision to exit the NNPP and align with the APC has triggered predictable outrage, undiluted anger and a crisis of denial among those who mistook noise for wisdom.

    “Yet, stripped all emotions and pretentions, the move was neither sudden nor surprising. It was not only inevitable, but it was inevitably inevitable. As always in life, some decisions test character, others test courage, but Governor Kabir Yusuf’s move tested both.

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    “For those of us who were privileged to have been witnesses to the long uncertain and often chaotic situations leading to the build-up to the 2023 elections, the Implosion of the Kano faction of the NNPP was never a matter of if, but when.

    “To all discerning minds and close watchers of the dynamics of politics, the warning signs were everywhere. A party built more on sentiments than realities, in personalities rather than institutions, and on personal loyalty instead of legitimate organisational discipline will hardly escape from internal crisis and conflicts. Indeed, such fragile artificial and ad-hoc arrangements do not endure. Certainly, they do not last long. They expire and they explode, often with a bang.

    “Governor Kabir Yusuf chose not to wait for the expiry date because the expired date was already very near. The unfolding crisis today is therefore not just a fallout, it is a confirmation. Not surprisingly, critics have framed the decision as betrayal. That is the lazy language of some selfish politicians. In truth, what we are witnessing is something unique and rare. A politician refusing to be trapped by a collapsing internal disorder, simply to satisfy the romantic expectations of mentors and political merchants.

    “While others were busy managing and massaging egos and firefighting internal rebellions, the governor was reading the balance sheet of political reality. Unfortunately, often tim s, reality is unforgiving.

    “Today, the very party Abba Yusuf left is engulfed in open conflict -court room litigations, factional declarations and advertised confusion over party legitimacy. This is not an external conspiracy, it is the natural consequence of unresolved contradictions demanding serious attentions, but we’re ignored for too long. The crisis did not begin with the governor’s exit. To the contrary, it was the political wind that blew open it’s pretentious cover.

    “In the circumstance, Governor Abba’s decision was not an act of abandonment, but if self preservation and more importantly, of the obligation for him to fulfil his mandate. Kano state cannot afford cannot afford a distracted leader held hostage to endless validation and internal quarrels. 

    “The good people of Kano state deserve and demand a leadership, a good leadership for that matter which requires oxygen, not suffocation by insatiable personal selfish interests.

    “Political realignments are common in Nigeria. What distinguishes Abba’s move to others is timing. The Governor did not move in panic, not in fear, not in desperation. Rather, he moved while he still had leverage, clarity of mind and the much needed momentum to drive the process through to it’s logical conclusion. That is not weakness. That is strategy.

    “From all that has been filtering from Kano state, history is already leaning in his favour. Already, as events unfold, the narrative is shifting from outrage to reluctant acknowledgement, to the redefinition of loyalty in his side. 

    “One question many followers of Kano politics are asking quietly is kit why did Abba leave now, but how long could he have realistically stayed and survived in the furnace? Students of realpolitik will tell you that vindication of real politics rarely arrives with applause. It arrives with facts, irrefutable facts and that facts are always stubborn, to the utter dismay of rejectionists.

    “Governor Kabir Yusuf made what was arguably the most difficult decision of his political life and very likely, the most consequential decision too. Governor Kabir Yusuf ‘s political realignment was difficult, but his choice of APC was difficult, but his choice of APC was necessary and logical. 

    “What is unfolding now confirms what some of us already knew would happen, just a question of time and the time has come. This was never about betrayal, it was about foresight and foresight is one of the rare hallmark of good leadership. 

    “But if some people’s out of sentiments and selfish interests still feel it’s is a betrayal, then they should be reminded that a good student must learn from his teacher and a good mentee must learn from his mentor or as they say in Latin, Quorn seminas id metes.”

  • BREAKING: I’m set to join APC tomorrow, says Kano governor

    BREAKING: I’m set to join APC tomorrow, says Kano governor

    Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, is set to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, 26 January 2026.

    His decision came after he resigned from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) last Friday.

    This was contained in a statement by the governor’s spokesman, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Sunday.

    The statement recalled that Governor Yusuf first joined the APC in 2014 when he won the party’s primary election for the Kano Central Senatorial seat, a position he later conceded to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

    It noted that after years of political engagement across different platforms, including his most recent stint in the NNPP, prevailing realities of governance, national cohesion, and development necessitated his return to the APC, which he described as a familiar and structured platform for progressive governance.

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    Governor Yusuf stated that rejoining the APC would further strengthen cooperation with the Federal Government, accelerate infrastructural development, enhance security coordination, and improve service delivery across Kano State.

    He added that the decision would also consolidate political stability and unity in the state.

    On Monday, 26 January 2026, the governor will formally register as a member of the APC in Kano alongside 22 members of the State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and the 44 local government chairmen.

    Yusuf is also expected to officially launch the APC e-registration exercise in the state.

  • JUST IN: Tinubu in closed-door meeting with Kano Governor, Yusuf

    JUST IN: Tinubu in closed-door meeting with Kano Governor, Yusuf

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently in a meeting with the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, at the State House, Abuja.

    The Kano governor arrived at the State House some minutes past 4 pm and was led towards the President’s office by the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.

    The closed-door meeting comes amid speculation over a possible defection by Governor Yusuf, who was elected on the platform of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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    It will be recalled that the national leader of the NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, had earlier dismissed reports suggesting that he approved or endorsed any planned defection by the Kano State governor, insisting that no such consent was given.

    Political watchers say talks around the reported defection have been ongoing for weeks, though sources suggest negotiations may have stalled over disagreements, including whether the governor would be granted an automatic ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The speculation has also reportedly deepened tensions between some of Governor Yusuf’s supporters and loyalists of his political mentor, Kwankwaso.

    The meeting with the President might not be unconnected with the planned defection.

    Details of the meeting are expected to emerge later.

  • Abba’s defection: Between vested rights and vested interests

    Abba’s defection: Between vested rights and vested interests

    Sir: Politics, at its core, is a contest between principles and power, between service and control. The unfolding drama in Kano State today fits squarely into this timeless struggle. At the centre of it is Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf (popularly called Abba) and his long-standing political benefactor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. What many now describe as betrayal is, in truth, a deeper conflict between vested rights and vested interests.

    For over four decades, the political and personal relationship between Abba Yusuf and Kwankwaso was one of loyalty, mentorship, and shared struggle. From their early days as civil engineers at WRECA in the 1980s, through years of public service, political battles, and even family ties, Yusuf stood firmly by Kwankwaso. He followed him into politics, served him diligently as Personal Assistant, Principal Private Secretary, Commissioner for Works, and remained loyal even after Kwankwaso left office. Few political protégés in Nigeria have shown such consistency of allegiance.

    That loyalty was rewarded politically when Yusuf was handpicked as the standard-bearer of the Kwankwasiyya Movement first in 2019, and later successfully in 2023 when he became Governor of Kano State. By every fair assessment, Abba Yusuf earned his place not only through mentorship but also through years of sacrifice, experience, and credibility with the people.

    This is where the issue of vested rights comes in.

    Once elected, a governor derives his authority not from a godfather, but from the people and the constitution. Governance is not an extension of a private political office; it is a public trust. Abba Yusuf’s insistence on exercising independent judgment, running his administration, appointing officials, and shaping policy priorities is not rebellion—it is his right. That right is vested in him by law and by the mandate of Kano citizens.

    On the other side are vested interests—the expectation that political power, once helped into existence, must remain permanently subordinate to its source. This is the familiar logic of godfatherism: “I made you, therefore I must control you.” In this arrangement, loyalty is measured not by performance or service delivery, but by unquestioned obedience.

    Sources close to the unfolding crisis suggest that this expectation of absolute loyalty became the real fault line. As Governor Yusuf began to assert autonomy making independent decisions, pursuing visible projects across the state, and building his own political profile tensions deepened. To some within the Kwankwasiyya inner circle, this growing independence was seen not as maturity, but as a threat.

    This fear appears to have driven resistance to Yusuf’s second-term ambition within the NNPP. Internal litigations, factional crises, and alleged plans to deny him the party ticket or even replace him with his deputy all point to one thing: an attempt to clip the wings of a sitting governor who had come of age politically. At that point, remaining within such a structure ceased to be about ideology and became a question of political survival.

    Governor Yusuf’s reported decision to defect to the APC must therefore be understood in this context. It is less about party labels and more about escaping a cage of control. His consultations with lawmakers, local government chairmen, and federal representatives show a leader responding to political reality, not acting on impulse.

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    History offers clear lessons here. From Rivers to Benue, unresolved godfather–godson conflicts have destabilised governance, divided parties, and punished citizens. Kano appears to be at a similar crossroads.

    Crucially, this episode forces a national conversation about what mentorship in politics should mean. A true godfather does not seek to lead a godson forever. He lifts him, prepares him, and ultimately allows him to grow into a godfather himself. Leadership is not inheritance; it is succession. Any mentor who insists on permanent control reduces governance to personal property and suffocates democratic growth.

    Abba Yusuf’s choice, difficult as it may be, represents the assertion of vested rights over vested interests. It is the declaration that governance must serve the people first, not personal legacies. Whether one agrees with his defection or not, it is clear that this moment is about more than party politics—it is about redefining power, loyalty, and political maturity in Kano State.

    In the end, history is kinder to leaders who choose responsibility over dependency. Kano’s future will not be secured by who controls whom, but by who delivers for the people.

    •Abdullahi Abubakar Lawal,Zaria, Kaduna State.