The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, met with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, arriving at the President’s office at 4:13 p.m. local time.
The visit comes amid mounting speculation that Governor Yusuf may defect from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move strongly opposed by the party’s leadership and its national leader, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Kano politics has been thrown into renewed tension, with internal disagreements emerging within the NNPP between supporters of the governor and loyalists of the Kwankwasiyya movement, founded by Kwankwaso.
In a press statement issued in December 2025, the NNPP, both at the state and national levels, reiterated its rejection of any defection to the APC.
“We are aware of the developments happening here in Kano State concerning some individuals who intend to defect to the APC,” said NNPP Kano State Chairman Hon. Hashim Suleiman Dungurawa. “I want to make it clear that the Kano State party, the national party, and our national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, together with other leaders, do not approve of what is happening.”
Dungurawa added that the party had made numerous efforts to persuade those involved to remain patient and stay within the NNPP, emphasizing the responsibility of leaders to the people of Kano. “We did everything within our power to persuade them not to defect to the APC, because of our duty to them and to the people of Kano,” he stated.
Kwankwaso himself addressed the issue in a video shared with supporters, warning that political betrayal rarely yields lasting success. “I want to remind those who left us that nobody has betrayed us and succeeded,” he said. “Political history is very clear on this matter. Those who think they can rise by abandoning the people and the movement they came from should reflect deeply.”
The NNPP leader stressed that the party’s strength lies with the people, not individual officeholders, and that defections would not weaken the movement. “I am not disturbed by these developments. What matters most is the support of the masses, not the movement of a few politicians chasing personal interests,” Kwankwaso said.
He also highlighted the massive turnout of supporters at a recent gathering as proof of the NNPP and Kwankwasiyya movement’s enduring grassroots strength across Kano State. “You can see with your own eyes the number of people who came here today. This is evidence that our movement is alive, strong, and firmly rooted among the people of Kano,” he said.
Despite ongoing speculation about defections, Kwankwaso reaffirmed the party’s commitment to its core principles and its mission to serve as a platform for progressive politics in Kano and beyond.
About the Author
