By Ghazali Ibrahim
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, is reportedly preparing to leave the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in what could become one of the most significant political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Although the move has not been officially confirmed by the governor, multiple credible reports suggest that the defection could happen as early as January 2026. If it goes through, it would mark the end of Governor Yusuf’s long-standing political alliance with NNPP leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, under whom he rose through the ranks in the Kwankwasiyya movement.
Sources close to the governor say the decision follows months of political consultations and is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the APC’s position in Kano State, Nigeria’s most populous northern state.
The NNPP leadership, however, has reacted strongly, describing the planned defection as a betrayal of trust. The party’s Kano chairman, Hashim Dungurawa, has dismissed the reports as rumours but warned that any such move would be “disappointing and disloyal to the people who voted under the NNPP banner.”
Governor Yusuf is currently the only NNPP governor in Nigeria. His exit would mean the party loses its only state-level leadership, significantly weakening its national relevance.
Political analysts say the development could reshape the political dynamics in the North-West and further consolidate APC’s hold on power, especially as the party begins early moves to secure victory in 2027.
So far, the governor has not made an official statement, but many believe the countdown has already begun.
