Mixed reactions have continued to trail the political realignment in Kano State following Governor Abba Yusuf’s defection from the New Nigerian Peoples Party to the All Progressives Congress, a development widely seen as setting the stage for a fierce contest ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The defection, which effectively stripped the NNPP of the only state it controlled, followed Yusuf’s decision to part ways with his political benefactor and party leader, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, and align with former governor Abdullahi Ganduje, a longtime rival of the Kwankwasiyya movement.
Yusuf, in his resignation letter, cited persistent internal crises, unresolved leadership disputes, prolonged court cases and deep divisions within the NNPP, saying remaining in the party was no longer in the best interest of Kano State.
Kwankwaso, a former governor and the 2023 presidential candidate of the NNPP, described the governor’s exit as a betrayal, declaring the day Yusuf formally joined the APC as one that should be remembered for the breaking of trust.
In a separate interview, Kwankwaso predicted that Yusuf would not secure victory in 2027, arguing that political forces aligned with Ganduje lacked popular acceptance in Kano.
The APC, however, dismissed the claim, with its Director of Publicity in the state, Bala Ibrahim, insisting that Ganduje’s political support had produced electoral victories across several states and would do the same in Kano.
Senior NNPP figures, including Board of Trustees Secretary Buba Galadima, described Yusuf’s move as one driven by personal survival rather than public interest, maintaining that the party’s structure and grassroots strength remained firmly loyal to Kwankwaso.
Echoing this position, NNPP leaders and supporters argued that the former governor’s influence remained intact, stressing that political relevance was built on ideology, consistency and long-term engagement with the people.
The Kano State Government, however, expressed confidence in Yusuf’s re-election prospects, with officials insisting that his performance in office, rather than political godfathers, would determine his fate in 2027.
Both Kwankwaso and Yusuf recently tested their popularity during separate visits to Singer Market in Kano following a fire outbreak, drawing large crowds and reinforcing speculation that the battle for Kano’s political soul has already begun.