Political tremors are rippling through Kano State as the All Progressives Congress (APC) formally invited Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to join its ranks, setting the stage for a dramatic realignment in one of Nigeria’s most politically influential states. The move, confirmed by a statement from Kano State APC Chairman Abdullahi Abbas on December 31, 2025, comes amid mounting speculation about Governor Yusuf’s possible defection from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and has already sent shockwaves through the powerful Kwankwasiyya political movement.
According to BBC reporting, sources expect Governor Yusuf to officially announce his switch to the ruling APC at a state executive council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Notably, he is set to make this move without his deputy governor and without the blessing of his longtime political mentor and NNPP leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. This development has not only unsettled the NNPP but has also caused a significant rift within the Kwankwasiyya movement, a political force that has long shaped Kano’s electoral landscape.
Chairman Abbas described the APC’s invitation as part of a wider effort to foster unity, reconciliation, and progress in Kano State. "The APC is ready to receive Governor Abba Yusuf with open arms so that, together, we can pool our strengths for the progress and stability of Kano State," Abbas stated, emphasizing that the party’s doors are open to Yusuf and other NNPP leaders willing to join. He further noted that, should the governor and his allies make the leap, they would be welcomed under the leadership of former APC national chairman Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, in what he described as an atmosphere of "mutual respect and shared responsibility."
The prospect of Governor Yusuf’s defection has already generated deep internal tensions within the NNPP. Political observers, cited by both BBC and local sources, believe this shift could significantly alter Kano’s political dynamics in the run-up to the 2027 general elections, potentially consolidating APC’s influence in a state that has often served as a bellwether for national politics.
Yet, the move is far from uncontested. Senator Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s national leader and a former governor of Kano, has made his opposition clear. In a video widely circulated on social media, Kwankwaso issued a stern warning to party members contemplating a switch to the APC. Speaking to a crowd of NNPP faithful, he declared, "I am surprised to see many of your faces here – tell those planning to defect that no one succeeds through arrogance. Someone may think they have succeeded by betraying us for ten years, but if you look closely, you’ll see they have fallen hard."
Kwankwaso’s remarks, as reported by BBC, have been interpreted as a direct challenge to those considering following Governor Yusuf into the APC. The senator’s words seem to carry both a warning and a veiled threat, reflecting the high stakes and personal loyalties at play. Whether these admonitions will be enough to keep the NNPP’s rank-and-file from splintering remains to be seen.
The internal divisions within the NNPP and the broader Kwankwasiyya movement have come to a head in recent weeks. On January 30, 2025, the NNPP expelled its Kano State chairman, Hashim Dungurawa, along with the chairman of the Gargari ward in Dawakin Tofa local government. The expulsions, announced by party official Shu’aibu Hassan in a press briefing, were attributed to six alleged offenses, including causing division within the party, poor leadership, disrespecting the governor, undermining the party, and expelling important party members. Dungurawa, for his part, has denied the allegations, insisting that they are baseless and politically motivated.
These expulsions have only deepened the sense of crisis. As BBC notes, this is perhaps the first time that the Kwankwasiyya movement has experienced such a profound internal split. Social media videos have shown supporters in the movement’s trademark red caps publicly expelling one another from the party, underlining the level of confusion and animosity now present within the ranks.
"Although things haven’t yet descended into open conflict, we’ve reached a point where each side is expelling the other from the party," observed Dr. Kabiru Sufi, a lecturer at a Kano pre-university college, in comments to BBC. "This shows just how deep the division now runs within the Kwankwasiyya movement."
The uncertainty has left many supporters torn between loyalty to Kwankwaso, the movement’s founder and spiritual leader, and Governor Yusuf, who currently holds the reins of executive power in Kano. Some argue that they will remain wherever "the leader" goes, awaiting Kwankwaso’s directive, while others say they are prepared to follow Governor Yusuf, given his position as governor. Still, a significant number of local stakeholders have called on both men to reconcile and join the APC together, hoping to avoid a total rupture in the movement.
Indeed, local government meetings across Kano’s 44 councils have seen stakeholders urging unity between Governor Yusuf and Senator Kwankwaso, with many advocating for a joint move to the APC. This sentiment reflects a broader desire among grassroots supporters to see the two political heavyweights set aside their differences for the greater good of the state, or at least to preserve the movement’s influence within the new political configuration.
Amid all this, the political future of Kano State hangs in the balance. The APC’s overtures to Governor Yusuf—and the governor’s apparent willingness to accept—signal a possible realignment that could reshape the state’s political map for years to come. Yet, the deep divisions within the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya movement raise questions about whether such a shift can be managed without further fragmentation or whether it will simply lead to a new round of political infighting.
As the date for Governor Yusuf’s expected announcement approaches, all eyes in Kano—and indeed across Nigeria’s political establishment—are fixed on the outcome. Will the governor’s move consolidate his power and bolster the APC’s standing, or will it trigger a backlash that weakens both him and the party he hopes to join? For now, the only certainty is that Kano’s political landscape is entering a period of unprecedented flux, with old alliances breaking down and new ones emerging in their place.
Whatever happens next, the next few weeks promise to be among the most consequential in the recent history of Kano State politics.
