|By Adejumo Adekunle
Political tension escalated in Kano State on Monday as security agencies tightened their presence around the Government House amid a growing rift between the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf over an impending defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Strong indications suggest that Governor Yusuf, a long-time protégé of Kwankwaso, is preparing to dump the NNPP for the APC. The move, initially expected to happen earlier, was reportedly shifted to January 12 to allow the governor consult more broadly, particularly with members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
Kwankwaso, speaking at the weekend, openly opposed the plan, accusing Yusuf of plotting to “hand over Kano to former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje,” whom he claimed the state had earlier been rescued from. Ganduje and Kwankwaso were once close allies before their relationship collapsed following the change of power on May 29, 2015.
Responding to the allegation, the governor’s media adviser, Alhajiji Nagoda, said Yusuf still holds Kwankwaso in high esteem, describing him as his political leader. However, he insisted that the governor’s proposed defection had become unavoidable in the interest of security and stability.
Nagoda faulted what he described as conflicting security directives in the state, lamenting that, despite Yusuf being the Chief Security Officer of Kano, the police allegedly claimed to be taking instructions from outside the state. He also recalled the unresolved emirate crisis, citing an incident in which the convoy of Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II was reportedly attacked while passing near the Nassarawa Palace, where the 15th Emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, resides.
According to him, such incidents underscored the need for political realignment that could restore order and improve the welfare of residents. He expressed optimism that Kwankwaso would eventually back the move and “lead the way” to the APC.
Meanwhile, the planned defection has triggered sharp divisions within the APC itself. A prominent party figure in Kano, AbdulMajid DanBilki Kwamanda, alleged that Yusuf and Kwankwaso were jointly orchestrating the move behind closed doors.
In a video circulating online, Kwamanda claimed the defection was a calculated political strategy, insisting that the bond between Yusuf and Kwankwaso remained unbroken. He alleged that the plan would allow Yusuf to seek a second term on the APC platform, while his deputy, Comrade Aminu AbdulSalam, stays in the NNPP to contest, ensuring Kwankwaso’s influence regardless of the outcome.
Kwamanda further alleged that Ganduje was involved in the plot as part of a broader strategy to weaken the political chances of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin ahead of the 2027 elections.
The unfolding drama has fractured the Kwankwasiyya movement, with one faction accusing Governor Yusuf of betrayal, while another openly supports his proposed switch to the APC, setting the stage for a major political realignment in Kano.
