2026

Kano State is witnessing a major political realignment as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf prepares to defect from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move that has left his former allies and longtime loyalists of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso politically exposed. Insiders indicate that the governor’s decision is the culmination of months of strategic planning, designed to free his administration from the influence of Kwankwaso, the NNPP leader and his former political mentor. Sources confirm that Yusuf’s aides and members of the State House of Assembly have been briefed about the planned transition, even though a public announcement is yet to be made. Premium Times reports that the move has already triggered the expected resignations of key commissioners, including Mustapha Kwankwaso, the Kano State Commissioner for Youth and Sports and eldest son of Senator Kwankwaso. While Mustapha has not formally stepped down, insiders suggest he will vacate his position before or immediately after the governor formalizes his defection. The sources from the online newspaper platform stated that the defection has created a stark divide among political office holders in the state.  Several high-ranking officials have reaffirmed loyalty to Kwankwaso and the NNPP, distancing themselves from the governor’s transition. Among them are the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Yusuf Kofar-Mata; Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Adamu Aliyu; Commissioner for Internal Security, AVM Ibrahim Umar (rtd.); and Commissioner for Mineral Resources, Hamza Kachako. Other NNPP loyalists include the Executive Secretary of the Kano Scholarship Board, Musa Danzaki, and the Managing Director of Kwari Textile Market, Hamisu Dogonnama. Read Also: Beyond Betrayal: The Real Politics Behind Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Calculated Move APC Eyes Control of 30 States as Governor Yusuf’s Possible Defection Redraws Kano Politics Kano Politics: Ganduje’s Leadership Remains APC’s Strongest Asset The loyalty split also extends to the federal and state legislatures, with Senator Rufa’i Hanga and members of the House of Representatives Mukhtar Yarima, Abdulkarim Ado, and Sani Wakili affirming their allegiance to the Kwankwaso camp. Despite these holdouts, Governor Yusuf reportedly commands the support of the majority of NNPP members in the State Assembly, as well as all 44 local government chairpersons, their deputies, and most ward-level executives. Political analysts describe the move as a “palace coup” that could recalibrate Kano’s political landscape ahead of upcoming elections. The development marks a significant turning point in Kano politics, as it challenges nearly four decades of loyalty between Yusuf and Senator Kwankwaso. In 2023, 14 of the 19 commissioners in Yusuf’s initial cabinet were former aides and associates of Kwankwaso, highlighting the depth of their alliance. His son, Mustapha, was appointed to the cabinet in April 2024, further consolidating Kwankwaso’s influence within the state administration. Proponents of the governor’s defection argue that the move is intended to liberate the administration from external pressures and allow a more independent focus on Kano’s development agenda. Meanwhile, supporters of Senator Kwankwaso have described Yusuf’s planned exit as the “ultimate betrayal” of a lifelong political partnership. Originally expected in early January, the defection has reportedly been rescheduled to allow for consultations with key stakeholders and political actors within the state. The unfolding events underscore the fragility of old alliances and signal a reshaping of Kano’s political hierarchy. As the state anticipates formal announcements, observers suggest that the governor’s calculated defection may not only weaken Kwankwaso’s political stronghold but also reshape future alignments across the North-West political landscape.

The recent article by Hassan Sani Tukur, “Understanding the Current Kano Political Scene,” attempts to paint a picture of seamless ideological fidelity between the current administration and the Kwankwasiyya movement. However, the writer fails to acknowledge that history is repeating itself with remarkable precision. The only difference lies not in the “ideology,” but in the timeline of when a Governor decides to prioritize the interests of the Kano people over the overbearing dictates of a single individual. To compare Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje’s tenure to that of Abba Kabir Yusuf is to ignore the fundamental realities of age, experience, and professional standing, realities that are now pushing Governor Abba toward the same path of independence that Ganduje once took. ​One must consider the seniority and professional pedigree that Dr. Ganduje brought to the table. Long before Senator Kwankwaso rose to political prominence, Ganduje was a seasoned administrator, rising to the level of Director in the Federal Service and serving as a Commissioner. While Ganduje was supervising ministries, Kwankwaso was a subordinate staff member (Assistant Director) at WRECA. To expect a man of Ganduje’s seniority to remain a perpetual subordinate was an exercise in futility. Conversely, Abba Kabir Yusuf’s relationship with Kwankwaso was forged in the shadow of a Personal Assistant and in-law. What Abba could tolerate as a protégé, he can no longer sustain as a sitting Governor. The current January 2026 rift where the Governor is reportedly defecting to the APC while Kwankwaso opens “loyalty registers” for his followers is the ultimate proof that the “perfect subordinate” is a myth that even family ties cannot preserve. Read Also: Beyond Betrayal: The Real Politics Behind Abba Kabir Yusuf’s Calculated Move APC Eyes Control of 30 States as Governor Yusuf’s Possible Defection Redraws Kano Politics Kano Politics: Ganduje’s Leadership Remains APC’s Strongest Asset The narrative that Ganduje “abandoned” projects out of spite is a convenient deception. As a seasoned administrator, Ganduje understood that many inherited projects were riddled with corrupt-related insertions. History is now vindicating that caution. The current investigation by the ICPC into the alleged N1.5 billion foreign scholarship scam under the Abba administration, where investigations suggest a massive disparity between funds released and students actually sent is a chilling testimony to the concerns Ganduje raised years ago. For anyone to expect Ganduje, or any responsible leader, to become a “rubber-stamp” for projects crookedly packaged to siphon public funds through proxies is a great disservice to the state. ​To be fair to the records, Ganduje did not halt progress; he redefined it for sustainability. He completed the Murtala Muhammad and Ibrahim Taiwo flyovers, the Tiga Independent Power Project, and gave the “free education” policy legislative backing through the Kano State Free Basic and Secondary School Education Law of 2020. He refused to let the Governor’s office become a mere department of a private “Kwankwasiyya Company.” ​As of today, history has proved Ganduje right. The same approach of independence is exactly what Governor Abba is now being forced to take as he moves to align with the center. It is now clear that no one not a peer like Ganduje, nor a protégé and in-law like Abba can satisfy the overbearing dictatorship of the Jagora. The search for a “loyal governor” who will remain a puppet for eight years is an impossible quest. In the end, the needs of Kano always outgrow the control of a single man. Muhammad Sanusi Kiru Former Commissioner of Education, Kano State