Political tension is rising in Kano State following growing disagreement between Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, over an alleged plan by the governor to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
On Monday, security was noticeably reinforced around the Kano Government House amid reports of an imminent political realignment. Sources say Governor Yusuf, a long-time protégé of Kwankwaso, is considering a move from the NNPP to the APC, a decision that has sparked unease within the state’s political landscape.
Although the defection was initially expected to happen immediately, it has reportedly been postponed to January 12 to allow the governor to consult more widely, particularly with members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
Kwankwaso, speaking over the weekend, openly criticised the plan, accusing Yusuf of plotting to “hand over Kano to former governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.” He claimed that the state had previously been “rescued” from Ganduje’s leadership. Kwankwaso and Ganduje were once political allies before their relationship deteriorated after the change of government in 2015.
Responding to the criticism, Governor Yusuf’s media adviser, Alhajiji Nagoda, told Daily Post that the governor still holds Kwankwaso in high esteem and regards him as his political leader.
“We still respect and recognise Kwankwaso as our leader,” Nagoda said.
However, he argued that the governor’s planned move to the APC had become unavoidable, expressing hope that Kwankwaso would eventually support the decision. Nagoda cited security concerns as a key factor, lamenting a situation where, according to him, security agencies appeared to be taking directives from outside the state.
“As the Chief Security Officer of Kano, it is unfortunate that the governor issues security directives, yet the police say they are awaiting instructions from elsewhere,” he said.
Nagoda also referenced the unresolved emirate crisis in the state, recalling an incident in which the convoy of the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was allegedly attacked while passing near the Nassarawa Palace, where the 15th Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, resides.
“These are incidents that should not be happening,” he said, adding that aligning with the APC could help stabilise the state and improve the welfare of residents.
On Kwankwaso’s continued opposition, Nagoda said the government was hopeful he would reconsider. “We are praying that he softens his stance and leads the way to the APC,” he added.
Meanwhile, the proposed defection has also sparked controversy within the APC itself. A prominent party chieftain in Kano, AbdulMajid DanBilki Kwamanda, alleged that both Yusuf and Kwankwaso were secretly working together on the move.
In a video seen by Daily Post, Kwamanda dismissed claims of a rift between the two leaders, saying, “Nothing but death can come between Abba and Kwankwaso.”
He described the situation as a calculated political strategy, claiming Kwankwaso was allowing Yusuf to move to the APC to secure a second term, while Yusuf’s deputy, Comrade Aminu AbdulSalam, would remain in the NNPP to contest.
“So whoever wins in Kano, it’s a win-win for Kwankwaso,” Kwamanda said.
He further alleged that Ganduje was part of the defection plot, describing it as a broader plan to prevent Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin from contesting in the 2027 elections.
The unfolding developments have deeply divided the Kwankwasiyya movement, with one faction accusing Governor Yusuf of betrayal, while another backs his planned defection as a strategic move for Kano’s political stability.
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