Former Kano State Governor and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has given his blessing to the planned defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and other NNPP elected officials to the All Progressives Congress.
Kwankwaso disclosed his position in a brief video message that surfaced on Facebook on Tuesday, which was later shared by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, triggering widespread reactions across Kano’s political landscape.
The endorsement marks a sharp departure from Kwankwaso’s earlier stance, as he had previously faulted Governor Yusuf and other party office holders for contemplating a move away from the NNPP, accusing them at the time of abandoning the mandate freely given to them by the electorate.
Explaining his change of heart, the former governor said his decision was informed by the need to allow party members exercise their political choices freely and to douse growing internal tensions threatening the cohesion of the NNPP in the state.
He added that sustaining unity and preventing further divisions within the party influenced his resolve to support the unfolding realignment.
Political observers believe the move is a calculated effort by Kwankwaso to retain relevance amid shifting loyalties in Kano politics, opting to adapt to the changing terrain rather than risk being sidelined by events already in motion.