As governor marks birthday, NNPP leader opens loyalty register
Federal lawmakers split

The rift between Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso has deepened.

In reaction to the governor’s readiness to defect from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kwankwaso opened a loyalty register for political office holders to ascertain their allegiance and fidelity to his leadership.

The former governor began taking stock of his loyalists in Kano at the time Yusuf was celebrating his 63rd birthday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

With the governor were top government officials and party chieftains.

Kwakwanso, who shunned the ceremony, was busy in his Kano residence with “engagement meetings” with NNPP stakeholders, particularly members of the Kwakwansiyya Movement.

A source said moves and counter-moves by Yusuf and Kwankwaso have polarised the party and divided members of the NNPP in the National Assembly.

The governor has already secured the support of the 40-member House of Assembly, led by Speaker Jibril Isma’il Falgore, and all the 44 local government chairmen.

However, NNPP federal legislators have not openly indicated their willingness to defect to the APC along with the governor.

There are 21 House of Representatives from Kano state, out of which 13 are in NNPP.

Sources said Yusuf and Kwankwaso have polarized the NNPP federal lawmakers over the defection disagreement.

Out of the 13 NNPP representatives, Umar Mukhtari Zakari, who represents Tarauni Constituency, has publicly opposed the planned defection.

However, Aliyu Sani Madaki (Dala), Abdulmumin Jibrin (Bebeji/Kiru), Yusuf Rabiu (Sumaila/Takai), and Sani Abdullahi (Karaye/Rogo) have already moved to the APC.

Also, Kabiru Usman, who won a rerun in Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Constituency under the NNPP, and Sagir Ibrahim Koki (Kano Municipal) have defected to APC.

Although the defection was scheduled for yesterday, it was postponed by the APC national leadership till January 12.

In the earlier arrangement, Vice President Kashim Shettima and the national chairman of the APC Nentawe Yilwatda were billed to receive Yusuf into the party.

Party sources said the event was rescheduled to allow further consultation with the National Assembly lawmakers from the state and key stakeholders who are yet to fully commit to the move.

A close aide of the governor said the governor is yet to officially register at his ward and he has not obtained the APC membership card for formal defection.

The defection is part of a larger political realignment that will enable Yusuf to potentially take on a significant leadership role in the state chapter of the party, and as well seal his bid for the governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.

The move, a strategic decision to strengthen the APC’s position in Kano State, has been rejected by Kwankwaso, who is speculated to be on his way to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in protest.

The sources said Yusuf defection will be a significant blow to the Kwankwaso-led Kwankwasiyya Movement.

The former governor had publicly threatened that no one betrays the Kwankwasiyya movement and goes free.

The disagreement between Yusuf and Kwankwaso led to the sack of Hashimu Dungurawa (a pro-Kwankwaso chieftain) as state chairman of the party.

Yusuf has picked Alhaji Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as Acting State Chairman.

A Kano State High Court ruling upheld the suspension of the embattled chairman and barred him from acting in that capacity, pending the determination of the suit.

But the national secretariat of the party has described the change in the leadership as a nullity and went ahead to dissolve the entire executive committees at the ward, local government and state levels indefinitely.

The APC is treating Yusuf’s defection move as a major political gain. It has significant implications for Kano State politics and beyond, including stripping the NNPP of its only governorship seat and potentially reducing its influence and viability as a national party.

The defection will bolster APC’s dominance in Kano and enhance its chances in the 2027 general election.

The existing power bloc of the Kano APC, led by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, had openly expressed their readiness to work with Yusuf.

Ganduje and the APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, have urged him to feel free to join the ruling party.

Yusuf’s much awaited arrival in APC may spark rivalry within the APC. It will ultimately neutralise the chance of Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin who has been aspiring for the ticket, a development that will likely influence negotiations, future alliances and voter alignments in Kano State.

Barau, who represents Kano North, has remained indifferent to the governor’s move, apparently because of his ambition.

Senator Rufai Sani Hanga (Kano Central) remains in the NNPP with Kwankwaso, while Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila (Kano South) defected from NNPP to APC last year and he is certainly not with Kwankwaso. (The Nation)

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