Kwankwaso says Yusuf will regret defection as Kano governor makes fresh appointments
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has made fresh political appointments to strengthen his grip on the state ahead of the 2027 general elections, as his former mentor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, warned that the governor would regret defecting from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso, who was the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, described Yusuf’s defection as a betrayal of the highest order, saying the governor and those who followed him would eventually face the consequences of their decision. He spoke in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday, expressing shock and disappointment over the development.
According to him, Yusuf’s exit from the NNPP appeared confusing and unreal, noting that many people had suggested it was part of a political arrangement. “Even I, on several occasions, found it hard to believe that events have unfolded the way they did,” Kwankwaso said, adding that time would reveal the outcome of the governor’s action.
The former Kano State governor accused Yusuf of handing over the mandate of NNPP members and the people of Kano to the political camp loyal to former governor Abdullahi Ganduje without strong justification. He said all the reasons given to him for the defection were issues that could have been resolved through dialogue and cooperation within the party.
Kwankwaso dismissed claims of an irredeemable crisis within the NNPP, insisting that no political party is completely free of internal disagreements. He maintained that the NNPP remained one of the most stable parties in the country, arguing that disputes were common after conventions and candidate selection processes.
Reacting to claims by defectors who still identify with the Kwankwasiyya ideology, Kwankwaso said it was contradictory to abandon the movement while professing loyalty to it. He also criticised the public reception Governor Yusuf received in the APC, describing it as a sign of impending political failure.
Meanwhile, former Kano State governor and APC national chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, declared his readiness to reconcile with Kwankwaso, adding another dimension to the unfolding political realignments in the state.
Kwankwaso said despite recent defections, Kano remained strong for the NNPP, stressing that efforts were underway to build alliances aimed at repositioning the party and addressing Nigeria’s challenges ahead of future elections.
