The New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, last month lost the only state they controlled to the All Progressives Congress, APC, after Governor Abba Yusuf joined numerous other state governors seeking survival ahead of the 2027 general elections.
DAILY POST reported that Kano recently faced the biggest political defection as Governor Yusuf parted ways with Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso and aligned himself with Kwankwaso’s longtime rival, or what some people have called a political enemy, Abdullahi Ganduje.
For NNPP loyalists, the governor chose shelter over loyalty, power over pedigree, and survival over structure. There have also been questions about Kwankwaso being overbearing, a reason attributed to a similar decision from Ganduje when he was governor.
In his letter of resignation from the party that brought him to power, Yusuf said he could no longer stay in the NNPP because of persistent internal crisis, unresolved leadership disputes at state and national levels, prolonged court cases involving party leadership, deep divisions and disenfranchisement of members, a belief that the cracks in the party had become irreconcilable, adding that his staying in the party would no longer serve the best interest of Kano State.
Kwankwaso, a former minister of defence, former governor, and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya group and the NNPP, could not hide tears over Yusuf’s defection.
The former governor described Monday, January 26, 2026, the day Abba Yusuf, also known as Abba Gida-Gida, formally joined APC, as one that should be marked in the world as a day of ‘betrayal’.
Speaking after the Governor’s defection, the 2023 presidential candidate of the NNPP, said, “Today, as the leader of this movement, I declared the 23rd of January as Betrayal Day. “We believe that day should be permanently recorded in history to ensure global awareness of betrayal and the breaking of trust exists”.
In a separate interview with the BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso said that by allowing Ganduje to raise his hand publicly, Abba Yusuf will not win the governorship election in 2027.
He said, “When I saw Ganduje raising Abba’s hand, I knew automatically that Abba would not win any election. People of Kano don’t support Gandujiyya. Ganduje lost the 2019 election, and his candidate also lost in 2023. So, Abba will not win in 2027.”
The APC in the state immediately countered this through its Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, saying, “Ganduje has raised the hands of many governorship candidates, and they have emerged victorious. “He has supported the governors of Imo, Kogi, Osun, and others, and his backing has consistently translated into wins. Kwankwaso needs to examine the number of hands raised by both himself and Ganduje, and the resulting victories. Abba cannot be an exception.