The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), on Monday, again condemned the defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a betrayal of both the party and its leader, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, NNPP National Spokesperson Ladipo Johnson said Kwankwaso and the people of Kano felt betrayed by the governor’s decision. “Naturally, he feels betrayed. But it is not just about him. The people endured eight years of bad governance and gave their mandate to NNPP through Kwankwaso’s leadership,” Johnson stated.
He noted that the party had no political structure in Kano before the 2023 election but still won, largely due to Kwankwaso’s influence. Johnson argued that Yusuf’s defection without consulting the electorate amounted to a breach of public trust. “Without consulting the people, you hand power back to those who were voted out. That is betrayal, no matter how you sugar-coat it,” he said.
NNPP Public Relations Officer Ibrahim Karaye added that the party was devastated but remained strong in Kano. He alleged that Yusuf had shut out party leaders, limiting their access and input. “The governor closed his doors. There was no access to him,” Karaye said.
Governor Yusuf formally joined the APC on January 26, 2026, alongside 22 state lawmakers and nine federal legislators. At the defection event in Kano’s Government House, Yusuf said the move followed consultations and was aimed at strengthening governance. “We are choosing partnership rather than polarisation. Political parties are vehicles; the destination is positive change for the people of Kano,” he explained.
Yusuf’s political rise was closely tied to Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya movement, which propelled him to victory in 2023 with over one million votes. However, tensions over autonomy and political control eventually strained their relationship, culminating in Yusuf’s defection.
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