Political stakeholders in Rogo Local Government Area of Kano State have reaffirmed their loyalty to former governor and presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, calling on him to lead them into the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The call was made during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Sunday, attended by councillors, ward chairmen, elders, and members of the Kwankwasiyya movement in the area.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, a governor’s aide, Abdullahi Rogo, said the gathering reviewed recent political developments in Kano State and resolved to stand firmly with Kwankwaso.
According to him, the stakeholders unanimously agreed to remain loyal to the former senator and urged him to guide them into the APC whenever he decides to make the move.
Rogo added that members of the Kwankwasiyya movement in the local government were advised to remain peaceful and law-abiding amid ongoing political realignments. He said the group also renewed its commitment to the core values of the movement, stressing that unity, discipline, and respect for leadership would continue to guide their actions.
Kwankwaso, who finished fourth in the 2023 presidential election, had in September expressed openness to an alliance with the APC ahead of 2027, but insisted that such a move must be based on clear and mutually beneficial terms.
While addressing supporters at his residence in Kano, Kwankwaso said any alliance must respect the interests of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Kwankwasiyya political movement.
He warned against entering an arrangement that could sideline his supporters, recalling that he was among the founding members of the APC and had endured persecution while opposing past administrations.
It is widely believed that President Bola Tinubu has been courting Kwankwaso, who secured nearly one million votes in Kano during the 2023 presidential election.
Meanwhile, an audio message obtained by The PUNCH featured the voice of Surajo Imam, spokesperson of the Association of Local Government Chairmen in Kano State and Chairman of Dala Local Government Area. In the message, Imam directed council chairmen across the state to mobilise NNPP stakeholders to appeal to Kwankwaso and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to join the APC.
He also announced the cancellation of a planned meeting at the State Assembly and urged local leaders to emulate the Rogo stakeholders by pushing for the defection.
Efforts to get official reactions from Governor Yusuf, his deputy, and the NNPP leadership were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
However, sources close to the governor and within the APC disclosed that plans for Yusuf’s defection from the NNPP to the APC had reached an advanced stage, with a formal announcement expected soon.
One source, who spoke anonymously, said all necessary arrangements had been concluded, while an APC official in the state confirmed that preparations were underway to receive the governor, possibly during a State Executive Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
The reported move has deepened internal divisions within the NNPP in Kano, particularly between Governor Yusuf and Kwankwaso, who is said to be strongly opposed to the defection. Sources said Kwankwaso fears the move could weaken the party’s structure in the state.
Despite this opposition, several NNPP leaders in Kano are reportedly backing the governor’s decision, citing political realignment ahead of future elections and the benefits of aligning with the ruling party at the centre.
The unfolding developments have continued to generate mixed reactions within the party, with some members supporting the governor’s move while others insist on remaining loyal to Kwankwaso.
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