Senator Kwankwaso warns Kano Governor Abba Yusuf will regret leaving NNPP for APC, as Yusuf makes fresh appointments to consolidate political foothold
Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and presidential candidate in 2023, has warned Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State that he will regret defecting from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Also read: Senator Pam Dachungyang Defects to APC Amid Plateau State Rift
The warning comes as Governor Yusuf made fresh appointments aimed at consolidating his political foothold ahead of the 2027 elections.
Kwankwaso described the governor’s defection as “a betrayal of the highest order” and said he personally found the development difficult to accept.
Speaking to the BBC Hausa Service, Kwankwaso said the circumstances of Yusuf’s exit were “unreal and confusing” and insisted the move will have political consequences.
“Many people have approached me saying they believe what happened was part of some arrangement between me and him… even I found it hard to believe that events have unfolded the way they did,” he said.
Kwankwaso dismissed claims of internal crises within the NNPP, stating that grievances are common in any party and that issues leading to Yusuf’s exit could have been resolved through dialogue.
Meanwhile, immediate past governor Dr Abdullahi Ganduje has expressed openness to reconciliation with Kwankwaso, emphasising that political differences should not prevent cooperation for Kano’s development.
Governor Yusuf, since his defection on Monday, January 26, 2026, has approved a series of strategic appointments.
Abdulkadir Balarabe Kankarofi was named Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs, while Hajia Aisha Tamburawa became Special Adviser on Positive Propaganda.
In the infrastructure and education sectors, Engr. Mukhtar Yusuf and Engr. Abba Kankarofi were promoted to managing director roles at WRECA and KARMA respectively, while Dr Mukhtar Bello Maisudan was appointed Executive Secretary of the Kano State Scholarship Board.
Musayyib Kawu Ungoggo was also named Managing Director of the Kano Zoological Garden.
The governor charged the new appointees to demonstrate dedication, transparency, and commitment to people-oriented governance in line with the Kano First Agenda.
Kwankwaso, a veteran Northern politician with a strong following among youths and the founder of the Kwankwasiyya movement, remains influential in Kano politics.
Observers note that his ideology has shaped the state’s political landscape for over a decade, with followers recognisable by their red caps.
Also read: Senator Pam Dachungyang Defects to APC Amid Plateau State Rift
Governor Yusuf’s defection marks a significant shift in Kano’s political dynamics, coming less than three years after he won the governorship on the NNPP platform.
