Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, alongside 31 lawmakers and 44 local government chairmen, has formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a high-profile political realignment in the state.
The defectors include nine members of the House of Representatives and 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly. The development was witnessed by top APC leaders at the Government House in Kano on Monday, three days after the governor resigned from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
Among those present were former Kano State Governor and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Abdullahi Ata, and Kano APC Chairman Abdullahi Abbas.
However, the state Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, was notably absent from the event. Also absent were three commissioners, who later resigned from the cabinet.
Speaking after flagging off the APC e-registration exercise, Governor Yusuf said his decision was guided by the broader interest of the state and not personal ambition.
“My decision to join the APC is not driven by personal interest or political ambition,” he said. “It is a deliberate step taken in the interest of unity, peace, stability, progress and sustainable development of Kano State.”
Formally declaring his defection, Yusuf stated: “On this day, Monday 26th, 2026, I, Abba Kabir Yusuf, your state governor, happily announce that I have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
The governor explained that aligning Kano with the ruling party at the federal level would help attract more development opportunities and strengthen cooperation with the central government. He also announced his acceptance of a proposal to establish an independent Elders Council of Kano, which he said would focus solely on the development of the state without political bias.
In his remarks, Ganduje announced that all APC governorship aspirants in Kano had relinquished their ambitions in support of Yusuf’s second-term bid.
“I want to formally announce to you that all the contenders of the governorship candidacy in Kano have stepped down in support of your second term in office,” Ganduje said.
He added that under APC policy, serving governors are recognised as party leaders in their states. “You are now the leader of the APC in Kano, and our loyalty is to you. We will support you,” he declared.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who had been widely speculated to have governorship ambitions, also publicly pledged support for Yusuf, leading chants endorsing a second term.
Meanwhile, three commissioners officially resigned from the state cabinet. They include the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mustapha Kwankwaso, son of former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; the Commissioner for Internal Security, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar (rtd); and the Commissioner for Special Duties, Nasiru Sule Garo.
All NNPP insignia at the Kano Government House have since been replaced with APC symbols, including flags, although the governor’s trademark red cap reportedly remains. With the development, Yusuf becomes APC card holder number 001 in Kano State, as the e-registration process was earlier delayed to accommodate his formal entry.
By Ahmad Sorondinki, Kano
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