2026

Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano Kano State politics appears to be heading into another defining phase as the rift between Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, continues to widen. At the heart of the growing discord is Governor Yusuf’s reported readiness to defect from the NNPP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that has triggered intense political maneuvering within the state and beyond. In response, Kwankwaso is said to have opened a loyalty register for political office holders, aimed at ascertaining allegiance to his leadership and the Kwankwasiyya Movement. The political tension played out publicly when Governor Yusuf marked his 63rd birthday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), surrounded by top government officials and party chieftains. Kwankwaso, conspicuously absent from the celebration, was reportedly in Kano holding “engagement meetings” with NNPP stakeholders, particularly loyalists within the Kwankwasiyya Movement. Sources familiar with the situation say the moves and counter-moves by both leaders have sharply polarised the NNPP, creating visible cracks among its ranks, including federal lawmakers from Kano State. While the governor has secured the backing of the 40-member Kano State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Jibril Isma’il Falgore, as well as all 44 local government chairmen, support at the National Assembly level appears divided. Read Also: Why Ganduje Matters as Kano Politics Enters a Defining Moment Kano Governor Yusuf’s APC Defection Postponed APC Eyes Control of 30 States as Governor Yusuf Considers Defection Out of the 21 members of the House of Representatives from Kano State, 13 were elected on the platform of the NNPP. However, only Mukhtari Umar Zakari, who represents Tarauni Federal Constituency, has openly opposed the planned defection. Others, including Aliyu Sani Madaki (Dala), Abdulmumin Jibrin (Bebeji/Kiru), Yusuf Rabiu (Sumaila/Takai), and Sani Abdullahi (Karaye/Rogo), have already defected to the APC. Similarly, Kabiru Usman of Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Constituency, who won a rerun election under the NNPP, and Sagir Ibrahim Koki (Kano Municipal) have also crossed over to the ruling party. Although the governor’s formal defection was initially scheduled for an earlier date, it was postponed by the APC national leadership to January 12. In the original arrangement, Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, were expected to receive Yusuf into the party. Party insiders say the event was rescheduled to allow further consultations, particularly with National Assembly members and key stakeholders who are yet to fully align with the move. A close aide to the governor disclosed that Yusuf is yet to officially register at his ward or obtain an APC membership card, steps required for a formal defection. Beyond party symbolism, Yusuf’s anticipated defection is widely seen as part of a broader political realignment aimed at securing a strong leadership position within the Kano APC and consolidating his prospects ahead of the 2027 governorship election. The move has, however, been firmly rejected by Kwankwaso, who is speculated to be considering a switch to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in protest. Sources say Yusuf’s exit would deal a significant blow to the Kwankwasiyya Movement, a political structure Kwankwaso has repeatedly warned must not be betrayed without consequences. The disagreement between both leaders has already claimed an early casualty. Hashimu Dungurawa, a known Kwankwaso loyalist, was removed as NNPP state chairman and replaced by Alhaji Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as Acting Chairman. A Kano State High Court upheld Dungurawa’s suspension, barring him from acting in that capacity pending the determination of the suit. However, the NNPP national secretariat dismissed the leadership change as invalid and proceeded to dissolve the party’s ward, local government, and state executive committees indefinitely. Within the APC, Yusuf’s expected entry is being treated as a major political gain. Party leaders believe it could strip the NNPP of its only governorship seat and significantly weaken its national standing, while strengthening APC’s dominance in Kano State ahead of the 2027 general election. The existing APC power bloc in Kano, led by the immediate past National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Chairperson of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, alongside Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, has openly expressed readiness to work with the governor. Ganduje, along with the APC State Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, has urged Yusuf to feel free to join the ruling party. Yet, political observers warn that Yusuf’s arrival could also trigger internal realignments within the APC. His presence may complicate the governorship ambitions of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who has been positioning himself for the ticket, potentially reshaping negotiations, alliances, and voter calculations across the state. While Barau has remained largely indifferent to the unfolding developments, Senator Rufai Sani Hanga (Kano Central) has stayed with Kwankwaso in the NNPP. In contrast, Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila (Kano South), who defected to the APC last year, is no longer aligned with the Kwankwasiyya Movement. As Kano politics continues to shift, the unfolding realignments signal a high-stakes contest that may redefine political loyalties and power structures well ahead of the 2027 elections.

By Umar Idris Shuaibu As political calculations intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) finds itself navigating one of the most delicate moments in Kano State’s recent political history. With Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf reportedly weighing a defection to the APC, the party’s capacity to manage expansion without internal disruption has come sharply into focus. At the centre of this evolving equation stands Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the immediate past National Chairman of the APC and current Chairperson of the Board of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), whose political relevance has become even more pronounced in this defining moment. In a political climate increasingly shaped by shifting loyalties and transactional alliances, Ganduje represents a rare political asset, a leader whose influence is anchored in structure, institutional memory, and tested loyalty. His importance to the APC at this juncture is not symbolic. It is strategic. Any major political movement in Kano, particularly one involving a sitting governor, inevitably intersects with Ganduje’s longstanding role as the party’s chief stabilising force in the state. Kano remains Nigeria’s most politically consequential state by population, and its alignment carries national implications. As such, Governor Yusuf’s potential entry into the APC is not merely a local affair but a national calculation requiring careful management. Integrating such a move demands credibility, restraint, and deep understanding of the party’s internal dynamics qualities that Ganduje has consistently demonstrated over the years. Ganduje’s political strength is rooted in his successful stewardship of Kano as governor, during which the APC consolidated its grassroots dominance and demonstrated electoral resilience. That foundation did not erode with time; rather, it evolved into broader national relevance. His tenure as APC national chairman further positioned him as a custodian of party discipline, someone trusted to balance competing interests without compromising institutional order. At a time when political defections often inflame internal tensions, Ganduje’s role becomes that of a bridge between old party loyalists and new entrants, between ambition and structure, and between Kano’s political past and its emerging realities. His approach, defined by dialogue rather than confrontation, offers the APC a pathway to accommodate new alliances without alienating existing stakeholders. Equally significant is Ganduje’s loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the APC. In moments when political actors recalibrated their positions for personal advantage, Ganduje remained consistent, reinforcing the trust placed in him by the party’s national leadership. That consistency now positions him as one of the few figures capable of managing sensitive negotiations around Yusuf’s reported defection without fracturing party cohesion in Kano. Read Also: APC Eyes Control of 30 States as Governor Yusuf Considers Defection Kano Politics: Ganduje’s Leadership Remains APC’s Strongest Asset Beyond Betrayal: The Real Politics Behind Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Calculated Move Beyond politics, Ganduje’s administrative relevance further strengthens his standing. His appointment as FAAN Board Chair is widely viewed as recognition of his capacity to combine political insight with governance competence. It underscores the perception of him as a leader whose utility extends beyond elections into the realm of statecraft. As Kano’s political landscape braces for possible realignment, the APC’s success will depend less on the optics of defection and more on how such a transition is managed. In this context, Ganduje’s influence is indispensable. His deep familiarity with Kano’s political structures, coupled with his credibility within the APC hierarchy, makes him a critical anchor in ensuring that any expansion strengthens rather than destabilises the party. Ultimately, political parties endure not merely by attracting new members but by preserving order, trust, and institutional discipline. As Governor Yusuf weighs his next move, the APC’s confidence rests in leaders who understand timing, balance, and loyalty. In that equation, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is not just a political asset, he is a stabilising constant at a moment when Kano politics demands careful hands.