By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, is expected to formally join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, according to reports from political sources in the state.
The anticipated defection, if confirmed, would mark a major shift in Kano’s political landscape and further strengthen the APC’s influence in the North-West region. Governor Yusuf, who won the 2023 governorship election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has in recent months been at the centre of intense political speculation amid reports of high-level engagements with leaders of the APC.
Sources familiar with the development said arrangements have been concluded for the governor’s formal reception into the APC, with top party leaders expected to attend the event. The move is reportedly linked to ongoing realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Governor Yusuf has not publicly confirmed the planned defection, while officials of the NNPP in Kano have declined to comment on the reports. However, APC insiders described the expected switch as the outcome of sustained negotiations and reconciliation efforts involving key political stakeholders.
Kano has long been regarded as a strategic political stronghold, and Yusuf’s defection would represent a significant blow to the NNPP, which rose to prominence in the state following the last general elections.
Meanwhile, former governor of Kano State, Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso has described the defection as a “betrayal of trust and sacrifice,” accusing the governor of abandoning the platform and movement that brought him to power.
The former Kano governor was quoted as saying that the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya movement invested enormous political capital and goodwill to secure Yusuf’s victory in the 2023 governorship election.
Kwankwaso further warned that such a move undermines the confidence of voters who rallied behind the NNPP for change, stressing that political ambition should not be placed above loyalty and principles.
Governor Yusuf has not publicly confirmed the planned defection, while NNPP officials in Kano have remained tight-lipped on the issue. APC sources, however, insist that the move follows weeks of consultations and negotiations with key stakeholders.
Political analysts say Kano remains a critical battleground in Nigeria’s politics, and Yusuf’s anticipated switch could significantly alter the balance of power in the state, dealing a major blow to the NNPP while boosting the APC’s prospects going forward.
