Kano Political Earthquake: Governor Abba Yusuf Dumps NNPP, Joins APC

​KANO, NIGERIA — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the nation’s political landscape, the Governor of Kano State, His Excellency Abba Kabiru Yusuf, officially defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, January 26, 2026.

​The formal ceremony, held at the Coronation Hall of the Kano State Government House, signifies the end of the Governor’s long-standing alliance with the Kwankwasiyya movement and its leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

​A Massive Realignment

​Governor Yusuf did not move alone. In a coordinated display of political force, he was joined by:

• ​22 out of 40 members of the Kano State House of Assembly (including the Speaker and Deputy Speaker).
• ​9 members of the Federal House of Representatives.
• ​All 44 Local Government Chairmen in the state.

​With this shift, the APC has successfully regained control of the Northwest’s most populous state, securing an overwhelming majority in the State House of Assembly.

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​”Partnership Over Polarisation”

​Addressing a crowd of supporters and party heavyweights—including former APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin—Governor Yusuf stated that his decision was guided by the need to align Kano with the center.

​”We are choosing partnership rather than polarisation. Political parties are vehicles; the destination is to bring positive change to the people of Kano,” the Governor declared. “This move is to ensure that our developmental agenda reaches every corner of the state through closer alliance with the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

​The Governor cited “prolonged leadership disputes” and “internal crises” within the NNPP as the primary reasons for his exit, emphasizing that the move was not fueled by personal ambition but by the “prevailing realities of governance.”

​Reactions and Implications

​The APC leadership has already signaled a warm reception, with reports suggesting the Governor has been granted an automatic ticket for the 2027 gubernatorial race. However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from the NNPP, which labeled the defection a “betrayal of the Kano electorate.”

​Notably, the Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, was absent from the ceremony, remaining loyal to the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya movement, setting the stage for a potential internal rift within the state’s executive council.