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.
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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.