Umar Idris Shuaibu, Kano
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, has described the defection of Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, to the ruling party as a major political milestone that signals a new phase of unity and development in the state.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa monitored by ‘The Historica Nigeria‘, Ganduje said the decision was warmly received by both the APC and Governor Yusuf, noting that long-standing political rivalries in Kano had been effectively laid to rest.
According to him, internal party matters, including leadership arrangements, would be resolved in due course, stressing that existing APC leadership structures were interim and would soon be renewed through duly constituted congresses.
He explained that the party was more concerned with ensuring the success of the governor’s administration, describing good governance as a collective responsibility that benefits both the government and the APC.
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Commenting on concerns surrounding party strategy and leadership following the governor’s defection, Ganduje said no formal national directive had been issued yet, adding that such issues were not expected to pose serious challenges.
He further noted that it is an established tradition within the APC to accord sitting governors the first right of refusal when seeking re-election, even though this provision is not explicitly stated in the party’s constitution.
On the broader objective of governance, Ganduje emphasised that the focus remains on delivering meaningful development and improving the welfare of the people, assuring that the APC is fully prepared to work with Governor Yusuf to achieve these goals.
Ganduje also spoke on the relationship between the APC and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, stating that reconciliation remains a possibility in the interest of political stability in the state.
Governor Yusuf formally defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the APC earlier this week, a development that has continued to generate widespread reactions across Kano’s political landscape.