Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is set to formally join the All Progressives Congress on January 26, 2026, after resigning from the New Nigeria People's Party. The move has triggered resignations and criticisms from party loyalists, including a commissioner and the NNPP leadership. Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo has reaffirmed his commitment to the NNPP amid the turmoil.
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf's resignation from the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) and his impending switch to the All Progressives Congress (APC) have intensified political tensions in the state. The governor's spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, confirmed in a statement on January 25, 2026, that Yusuf would formally rejoin the APC on Monday, January 26.
The defection has drawn sharp rebukes from NNPP figures. Senator Rufa'i Sani Hanga, representing Kano Central and a NNPP chieftain, described the move as a 'political suicide' that 'will inevitably end in defeat.' Similarly, NNPP leader and former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, along with the party, labeled the resignation a 'betrayal of sacred trust.' Supporters of the Kwankwasiyya movement, aligned with Kwankwaso, visited his Kano residence on January 25 to show solidarity amid the crisis.
In a related development, Kano Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Yusuf Ibrahim Kofarmata, resigned his position and party membership on January 25, citing the 'prevailing political turmoil.' His letter was addressed directly to Governor Yusuf.
The governor's deputy, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has come under scrutiny as he remains with the NNPP and has openly reaffirmed his loyalty to the party, putting him at odds with the governor's new direction. This internal rift highlights the broader instability within Kano's political landscape following the defection.
