Loyalists of former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, were conspicuously absent on Sunday as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf made his first public appearance after days of speculation over a possible defection from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The governor, who had been out of public view for more than a week and was reportedly in Abuja during the period, resurfaced at the graduation ceremony and empowerment package distribution for 2,260 beneficiaries drawn from various state-run institutes. The event, held at the Open Space Theatre within the Government House, Kano, was officially organised to showcase the administration’s empowerment drive, but it also exposed widening political fault lines within the NNPP in the state. Beneficiaries at the event were drawn from institutions including the Film Institute, Poultry Institute, Livestock Institute, Driving Institute, Fisheries Institute, Horticulture Institute, Informatics Institute and the Development Journalism Institute. Notably absent was the embattled NNPP state chairman and a close ally of Kwankwaso, Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa. In a development that further highlighted shifting loyalties, Zubairu Abiya identified as a loyalist of Governor Yusuf was in attendance and was officially acknowledged as the new chairman of the party. Read Also: Former APC National Chairman Ganduje Back in Nigeria After Dubai Vacation Abba Yusuf’s Calculated Defection Leaves Old Loyalists Politically Exposed APC Eyes Control of 30 States as Governor Yusuf Considers Defection The absence of several prominent Kwankwaso loyalists deepened speculation of a growing rift within the party. Missing from the event were the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso; the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Yusuf Kofar Mata; and the Commissioner for Internal Security, AVM Ibrahim Umar (rtd), all of whom are reportedly opposed to the governor’s alleged defection plans. In contrast, many commissioners, local government chairmen, members of the Kano State House of Assembly and other political appointees were present, suggesting where much of the state’s political establishment currently aligns. Also in attendance were the Speaker of the House, Ismail Jibril Falgore, and the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Farouk Ibrahim. Although Governor Yusuf avoided any political remarks in his speech, tension was evident around the venue. Groups of party supporters were seen at the entrance of the theatre, openly expressing anger over the unfolding political developments. “Whoever among them comes here will live to remember what we will do to him. They dare not come here, betrayers,” one of the group leaders was overheard saying, as others echoed his sentiments. Meanwhile, amid speculation of an imminent political realignment in Kano, Senator Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, has intensified efforts to consolidate his grassroots base following a reported fallout with Governor Yusuf. For over a week, Kwankwaso has been receiving delegations of ward-level political structures, youth organisations and grassroots groups at his residences in Kano and Abuja. During the visits, the groups publicly reaffirmed their loyalty to the Kwankwasiyya ideology, distancing themselves from what they described as elite-driven political manoeuvres. Most of the delegations comprise former campaign foot soldiers and local mobilisers who played key roles in the NNPP’s victory during the 2023 elections. Political observers say the engagements, though modest in number, are strategically aimed at reassuring core supporters that the Kwankwasiyya movement remains intact despite uncertainty surrounding Yusuf’s political future. While Kwankwaso appears to be tightening his grip on the grassroots, Governor Yusuf is believed to have secured the backing of a significant number of elected and appointed officials in the state, including commissioners, special advisers, lawmakers and local government chairmen. Sources within Kano’s political circle disclosed that most government appointees have aligned with the governor, citing his control of state power and resources as a decisive factor ahead of any possible defection. “The reality is that those holding offices tend to follow where power is. Kwankwaso still commands emotional loyalty at the grassroots, but the governor controls the machinery of government,” a senior NNPP source said. Although Governor Yusuf has not publicly confirmed a break from the party, statements from both camps point to widening differences, particularly over political control, appointments and future alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. As the political tension unfolds, Kano appears to be standing at a familiar crossroads, where grassroots loyalty and institutional power once again compete to define the direction of the state’s political future.
