KANO: Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, is expected to dump the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in early January 2026, a move that could significantly change the political dynamics in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
If the defection goes ahead, it will mark a dramatic break between Yusuf and his long-time political mentor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, ending a relationship that has lasted for nearly 40 years.
Kwankwaso is the founder of the NNPP and the leader of the influential Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano.
Governor Yusuf is currently the only sitting governor elected on the NNPP platform. His exit would leave the party without control of any state, raising questions about its strength and future relevance on the national political scene.
Political sources say the timing is no coincidence. With the APC planning its party congresses for February 2026, Yusuf is believed to be positioning himself to take part in the process and strengthen his grip on the party’s structure in Kano.
The expected move is likely to have major consequences in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most politically important states. A successful consolidation within the APC could return the state fully to the ruling party and weaken the Kwankwasiyya movement, which has dominated local politics in recent years.
For Kwankwaso and the NNPP, losing Kano widely seen as the party’s political stronghold—would be a serious blow and could limit their influence ahead of the 2027 elections.
Insiders also say Yusuf’s defection could trigger fresh political realignments across the state, forcing lawmakers, party leaders and grassroots supporters to decide where their loyalties lie.
As attention slowly turns to 2027, Governor Yusuf’s expected switch is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about political developments in Kano, with implications that could stretch beyond the state.
