After weeks of hypothesis relating to his subsequent political transfer, the Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, lastly joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), signalling his readiness to hunt a second time period within the 2027 basic elections.
To many political observers, Governor Yusuf’s resolution to desert the New Nigeria Individuals’s Occasion (NNPP) constitutes a major betrayal. This sentiment is fuelled by accusations that he’s “biting the hand that fed him,” particularly following a stern warning of impending political penalties from Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s nationwide chief.
The governor’s loyalists, nonetheless, view his defection to the ruling celebration as a political masterclass geared toward guaranteeing the longevity of his administration. Explaining his causes for leaving the NNPP, Governor Yusuf acknowledged final week that the celebration has confronted persistent inside challenges, together with management disputes and ongoing authorized battles, lots of that are nonetheless awaiting judicial dedication. He famous that rising disenfranchisement amongst celebration members has induced profound structural divisions, manifesting as irreconcilable rifts and systemic uncertainty.
“IF THE KWANKWASIYYA MOVEMENT IS REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT DISGRACING YUSUF IN 2027, THEY SHOULD APPEAL TO THEIR LEADER TO JOIN THE ADC. THEY CANNOT ACHIEVE VICTORY IN KANO IF THEY REMAIN IN THE NNPP.”
Yusuf added, “After cautious reflection, and with out prejudice to the celebration’s capability to resolve its inside challenges, I’ve come to the conclusion that my resignation is in the very best curiosity of the individuals of Kano State.”
The complication with the governor’s place is that he’s a product of the political ideology generally known as Kwankwasiyya, pioneered by Kwankwaso. The “wounded” Kwankwaso has vowed to train his full affect to forestall his estranged political godson from securing one other time period within the Kano State Authorities Home in 2027.
The previous governor has additionally expressed his frustration publicly, stating, “Many individuals I spoke to felt it was some type of association between him and me, or between him and others. Even I usually discover it laborious to imagine that issues are unfolding the best way they’re.”
He continued, “Once I lie down, I ask myself: what actually occurred? Who was at fault? Was it me? Was it the celebration? Had been celebration members at fault? However I’ve not been capable of finding a solution.”
Kwankwaso, who was deeply shaken together with different members of the NNPP, refused to imagine Yusuf was leaving the celebration till Abdullahi Ganduje—Kwankwaso’s everlasting political rival and instant previous governor of Kano State—publicly raised Yusuf’s hand. At that second, he realized that the celebration had misplaced its most prized asset.
Kwankwaso referred to as Yusuf a betrayer and expressed deep disappointment that the governor had “handed over the mandate of NNPP members and the individuals of Kano to the Gandujiyya political camp” with out sturdy justification.
The Gandujiyya camp is led by Ganduje, whose resignation because the Nationwide Chairman of the APC in June 2025 was broadly seen as a precursor to political realignments involving the Kwankwasiyya motion and the ruling celebration. Whereas the APC introduced Ganduje resigned for well being causes, political analysts argued that President Bola Tinubu sought to carry Kwankwaso into the celebration to safe northern assist for the 2027 elections, allegedly making him prepared to “sacrifice” Ganduje’s management.
In line with celebration insiders, negotiations between the APC and the Kwankwasiyya Motion stalled as a result of each events couldn’t attain frequent floor. Kwankwaso constantly demanded a assure for both the presidential or vice-presidential candidacy as a situation for becoming a member of any political celebration—a requirement stakeholders stated couldn’t be met as a result of eradicating Vice President Kashim Shettima may set off political backlash in Northern Nigeria.
Sources revealed that the APC then turned again to Ganduje, urging him to steer the cost in Kano, regardless of his appointment as Board Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria following his controversial resignation because the celebration’s Nationwide Chairman. Yusuf now depends on the political affect of President Tinubu and the Gandujiyya camp to defeat Kwankwaso and his loyalists in 2027. He has already been supplied the APC governorship ticket however faces uncertainty as he enters a crucial stage of his political profession.
Political analyst Nura Wanbai informed The Level, “I pity those that may wish to underestimate Ganduje’s political affect in Kano. Ganduje served as deputy to Kwankwaso through the latter’s tenure as governor. Some assume he stays subservient to Kwankwaso—a view I don’t share. Ganduje is a significant power in Kano, and belittling him can be a mistake. Moreover, the ‘Tinubu issue’ will undoubtedly function a strategic benefit for him on the political battlefield. I don’t subscribe to the rhetoric relating to payback and revenge from Kwankwaso and his followers. As a substitute, I recommend he focuses on getting his personal home so as.”
Governor Yusuf might discover some vindication within the assist from the NNPP faction led by the celebration’s founder, Boniface Aniebonam, which defended his defection to the APC as an escape from political subjugation. Aniebonam registered the NNPP in 2001 and supplied it to Kwankwaso as a platform for the 2023 basic elections. Nonetheless, the connection between the 2 males deteriorated after the election.
The Aniebonam faction claims that Yusuf left the Kwankwasiyya Motion and the NNPP as a consequence of Kwankwaso’s makes an attempt at subjugation, fairly than for egocentric causes as some recommend. They argued that Kwankwaso, not Yusuf, was the precise betrayer for breaching Aniebonam’s belief and famous that Yusuf’s reconciliation efforts had been repeatedly rebuffed by Kwankwaso’s “conceitedness and greed.”
The NNPP loyal to Kwankwaso, who insist there aren’t any factions within the celebration, condemned Yusuf’s defection, accusing the Federal Authorities of undermining true federalism and decreasing state governors to mere subordinates of the presidency. Magaji Mato, NNPP Government Council member and Nationwide Authorized Adviser, stated throughout a tv interview that the NNPP sees Aniebonam as a “nuisance” who ought to contribute to the celebration’s progress fairly than its decline. Mato acknowledged, “He’s any individual who has given himself out for use by opponents to destroy a system he ought to have nurtured.”
Political analyst Benedict Njoku recommended that Kwankwaso ought to be part of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to exert his political weight. He stated an alignment with the ADC and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar may finish Yusuf’s bid for a second time period. Njoku added, “What we’re experiencing in Kano State didn’t take a few of us abruptly. We knew the battlefield can be set this fashion. Kwankwaso and his group ought to cease performing like youngsters who’ve had their sweet taken away. That is politics, and it’s a soiled recreation. If the Kwankwasiyya Motion desires to defeat Yusuf in 2027, they need to attraction to their chief to hitch the ADC. They can’t obtain victory in Kano if they continue to be within the NNPP. This isn’t 2023 when not one of the main contenders was in energy. Tinubu is in cost now, and issues have modified. Kwankwaso wants an alliance with Atiku Abubakar to problem Yusuf, Ganduje, and Tinubu in Kano. His political relevance is determined by becoming a member of the ADC; if he aligns with Atiku, Yusuf’s path to re-election in 2027 will change into rather more troublesome.”