Wednesday, April 15th 2026

Kano Governor Yusuf Returns to APC, Mass Defections Shake NNPP and Kwankwasiyya Faction


Kano Governor Yusuf Returns to APC, Mass Defections Shake NNPP and Kwankwasiyya Faction
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Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has officially returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party he first joined in 2014, signaling a major political shift in the state. The development was confirmed on Sunday by the governor’s spokesperson, Bature Tofa.

According to the statement, Governor Yusuf’s decision was guided by “the prevailing realities of governance, national cohesion and development,” making his return to the APC “both necessary and strategic.”

The governor described the APC as “a familiar and well-structured platform for progressive governance” and said rejoining the ruling party would enhance collaboration with the Federal Government.

“By returning to the APC, we will be better positioned to accelerate infrastructural development, strengthen security coordination, and improve service delivery across Kano State,” Yusuf said. He added that the move would “consolidate political stability and unity in the state” and serve the overall interest of the people of Kano.

The statement further revealed that on Monday, the governor will formally register as a member of the APC in Kano alongside 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and all 44 local government chairmen. The event will also see the official launch of the APC e-registration exercise in the state.

Sack of Kwankwaso Ally Signals Political Realignment

In a related development, Governor Yusuf has relieved his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Sunusi Surajo, of his appointment. Surajo, a former chairman of Madobi Local Government and a prominent figure in the Kwankwasiyya movement, was replaced by Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, a former aide to the governor’s predecessor and ex-national chairman of the APC.

The move comes a day after Yusuf resigned from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), citing persistent internal crises and leadership disputes. In his resignation letter, the governor stated:

“The NNPP has been engulfed by internal disagreements and legal battles that continue to undermine its unity across the country. These issues have weakened cohesion and distracted the party from its responsibility to the people.”

Yusuf’s departure has triggered a wave of defections, with 44 local government chairmen, 22 state assembly members, and eight federal legislators publicly aligning with him. However, the mass defection has fractured the Kwankwasiyya faction, leaving the state cabinet sharply divided.

A senior political source disclosed that Deputy Governor Aminu Abdulssalam Gwarzo has chosen to remain aligned with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and will not defect alongside the governor, highlighting the ongoing rifts within the state’s political landscape.

 

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