Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has reportedly parted ways with the leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) following a deepening rift over the 2027 governorship election, signalling a major political realignment in the state.
Sources close to the development disclosed that the disagreement between Governor Yusuf and NNPP leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, stemmed largely from the party’s position on the governor’s re-election bid. According to the sources, the governor became uncomfortable after it emerged that the former presidential candidate was not prepared to back him for a second term in office.
The crisis, it was gathered, had been brewing quietly for months before it eventually escalated into an open fallout. Insiders said the lack of assurance over the 2027 ticket widened the gulf between both camps, leading Governor Yusuf to explore other political options to secure his political future.
In a dramatic twist, the source revealed that the governor has since defected from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a move aimed at strengthening his chances of clinching a second term. The defection is expected to significantly reshape Kano’s political landscape, given the governor’s influence and the state’s strategic importance in national politics.
Despite their family ties—Governor Yusuf is Senator Kwankwaso’s son-in-law—relations between the two reportedly deteriorated over what the governor has repeatedly described as overbearing control of party affairs by the NNPP leader.
Yusuf was said to have expressed frustration over what he viewed as excessive interference in governance and political decision-making. Political observers say the fallout marks a major setback for the NNPP in Kano, where Kwankwaso’s political structure has long dominated.
They note that the governor’s exit could trigger further defections and alter the balance of power ahead of the 2027 general elections. As of the time of filing this report, neither Governor Yusuf nor Senator Kwankwaso had publicly commented on the development, while the NNPP and APC leaderships are yet to issue official statements.
