Kwankwaso to Yusuf: Resign Before defecting, by Esther Adamu

KANO, Nigeria — The political alliance that swept the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to power in Kano State in 2023 is on the brink of collapse, as Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has issued a stern warning to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf over his alleged plan to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kwankwaso Issues Ultimatum

Speaking to supporters at his residence in Kano over the weekend, Kwankwaso, the national leader of the NNPP, described the governor’s reported defection plans as the “highest level of betrayal.” He insisted that Yusuf must resign as governor before joining another party.

According to Kwankwaso, the mandate that brought Yusuf to office belonged to the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya movement, not to the governor as an individual.

> “Those instigating him to go should tell him to drop the governorship for us and go, since the governorship is not meant for only one person,” Kwankwaso said, describing the situation as a “nightmare.”

Defection Date Shifted

Speculation over Governor Yusuf’s defection has intensified in recent days. While the move was initially expected in the first week of January 2026, political sources now say the announcement has been shifted to January 12, 2026.

The delay is reportedly to allow further consultations with federal and state lawmakers who remain undecided. Key elements of the alleged defection plan include:

APC Talks: Yusuf is said to have met Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja to finalize arrangements.

Possible Cabinet Shake-up: The governor may replace his deputy, Aminu Abdulsalam Gwarzo—a known Kwankwaso loyalist—with an APC figure such as Murtala Sule-Garo or Kabiru Alhassan Rurum.

Legislative Backing: The Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Yusuf Falgore, alongside several lawmakers, is reportedly backing the move.

NNPP in Turmoil

In response to the crisis, the NNPP’s National Working Committee (NWC) on January 2, 2026, dissolved all party executive committees in Kano State, from the state level down to the wards.

A caretaker committee chaired by Abdullahi Abiya was immediately constituted to manage party affairs. The decision followed prolonged internal disputes and legal battles, including the suspension of former state chairman Hashimu Dungurawa.

A Historic Political Break

If Yusuf proceeds with the defection, it will end his nearly four-decade political relationship with Kwankwaso. Political analysts believe the governor is seeking independence from Kwankwaso’s dominant influence and closer alignment with federal power ahead of the 2027 general elections.

For the NNPP, the stakes are high. Yusuf is the party’s only sitting governor, and his exit would leave the party without control of any state. Meanwhile, APC leaders, including former Kano governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, have openly welcomed the prospect, viewing it as a major boost to the party’s dominance in the North.