After Governor Abba Yusuf joined a number of other state governors in attempting to survive until the general elections in 2027, the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) lost the only state they held to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month.
According to reports, Kano recently had the largest political defection when Governor Yusuf broke with Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso and sided with Abdullahi Ganduje, Kwankwaso’s longtime foe and, some have referred to him as a political enemy.
The governor prioritized survival over structure, power above bloodline, and shelter over devotion for NNPP supporters.
Questions have also been raised regarding Kwankwaso’s perceived overbearingness, which has been linked to a similar choice Ganduje made during his tenure as governor.
In his resignation letter from the party that put him in power, Yusuf stated that he could no longer remain in the NNPP due to ongoing internal strife, unresolved leadership disputes at the state and national levels, protracted legal proceedings involving party leadership, severe divisions and member disenfranchisement, and a conviction that the party’s divisions had become irreconcilable. He also stated that staying in the party would no longer be in Kano State’s best interests.
As the leader of the Kwankwasiyya faction and the NNPP, Kwankwaso, a former governor and minister of defense, was unable to contain his tears over Yusuf’s defection.
The day Abba Yusuf, better known as Abba Gida-Gida, formally joined the APC on Monday, January 26, 2026, should be remembered globally as a day of “betrayal,” according to the former governor.
The NNPP’s 2023 presidential candidate, speaking following the governor’s defection, declared January 23 to be Betrayal Day today in his capacity as movement leader.
“To guarantee that there is a worldwide awareness of betrayal and the breach of trust, we think that day should be permanently documented in history.”
In a different interview with the BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso stated that Abba Yusuf would lose the 2027 governorship race if he permits Ganduje to officially raise his hand.
“I knew instantly that Abba would lose any election when I saw Ganduje raise Abba’s hand,” he stated. Gandujiyya is not supported by Kano residents. Both Ganduje and his candidate lost in the 2019 and 2023 elections. Therefore, Abba will lose in 2027.
Bala Ibrahim, the state’s director of publicity for the APC, swiftly reacted to this, stating, “Ganduje has raised the hands of many governorship candidates, and they have emerged victorious.”
He has backed the governors of Imo, Kogi, Osun, and other places, and his support has always resulted in victories. Kwankwaso should look at how many hands he and Ganduje raised and the successes that followed. Abba can’t be an anomaly.
“Ganduje’s hands are genuinely hands of victory.” Ascerta Victoria. Because of the remarkable accomplishments made possible by the Renewed Hope Agenda, our party is well-liked in Kano and has the backing of the populace. Therefore, our party and its candidates will undoubtedly win in 2027.
Kwankwaso has previously run against the APC and lost. Therefore, losing to the APC is not a recent occurrence. The people’s course cannot be altered by hyperbole, and it is evident that Kwankwaso and the opposition party in Kano State have not won.
Additionally, Buba Galadima, the secretary of the NNPP Board of Trustees, told Arise News that the governor’s decision to join the APC was motivated by his own interests rather than Kano’s.
“I would have stated that Governor Yusuf made a good transition if he had switched from the NNPP to a different party than the APC. He urged us to accept the peace in Kano, but in this instance, it is simply about survival, not the Kano people.
And I want to state unequivocally that this betrayal is the third in global history, after Judas’s betrayal of Jesus and Brutus’ betrayal of the Caesars. The one that Kano Governor Yusuf just declared is the third that should be added to the Guinness Book of Records.
For this reason, our leader requested that we designate January 23rd as the greatest betrayal day in history. I’m much older than 75, and if anything could make me cry, it must have moved me deeply since I don’t easily give in to emotions like that.
When asked about Kwankwaso’s future, NNPP National Youth Leader Amb. Auwal Musa Muhammad responded, “The NNPP structure throughout the federation—at the national, state, LGA, ward, and grassroots levels—remains firmly loyal to Kwankwaso.” Trust, philosophy, consistency, and years of demonstrated leadership are the foundations of this allegiance.
“Political choices motivated by convenience or self-interest cannot undermine the NNPP. There is more to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso than meets the eye.
He is a proven, reliable, and results-driven leader whose political career includes decades of public service, selflessness, and people-centered leadership. His accomplishments as Kano State’s governor are still evident and substantiated.
“Kano State Governor His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf made the political decision to join the APC on his own, and we wish him well.” Politics is that.
However, neither Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso nor the NNPP’s organizational structure or political power—in Kano State or nationally—are impacted in any manner by this ruling.
Defectors are not in competition with Senator Kwankwaso. His position is based on legacy, ideology, and a strong political foundation that has been established over time. party importance is not acquired by switching party platforms, but rather by service, stability, and public trust.
The NNPP is still unified, disciplined, cohesive, and steadfastly committed to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. It is a party founded on principles, organization, and grassroots power rather than expediency.
History cannot be erased by defection. Structure cannot be destroyed by a single choice. The NNPP is steadfast, cohesive, and strong.
Chief Peter Ameh, a former presidential contender and activist, also stated that Governor Yusuf will not be able to regain power following the 2027 governorship election.
“I believe that people are misinterpreting the facts in order to judge Kwankwaso as someone who has fallen. The facts are unyielding and quite obvious.
Kwankwaso put Yusuf in the running to become governor in 2019.” He wasn’t a governor himself. They fought fiercely to try to overthrow the APC’s authority and power of state, relying on the Kwankwasiyya’s structure; they won the election, but it was rigged.
“There was a retreat, but no capitulation. 2023 saw their return. They ran in the election and defeated Ganduje using all of the federal government’s power, including all of the federal structure and all of the state’s power.
Kwankwaso became governor of Abba Yusuf because no one in Nigeria knew him. Because of the Kwankwasiyya movement, he was elected governor.
And since Kwankwaso is the one initiating and directing the conversation, Yusuf should be terrified of the repercussions of his actions as long as he stays in the NNPP and does not join the APC.
Therefore, I am certain that Abba Yusuf would be disciplined in 2027 because I am furious with the Kano people, who have political views that differ from those of other regions of this nation.
“The dynamics of our election have shifted. Voter fraud, ballot box stuffing, rewriting outcomes without a vote, and democratic theft of electoral mandates have all altered.
In the meantime, the Kano State Government has insisted that, Kwankwaso or not, Abba Yusuf will easily win the general election in 2027.
Claims that Yusuf cannot win a second term without the support of political godfathers were denied by the government, which maintained that his chances of winning reelection depend on his performance and the support of the electorate.
In response to comments ascribed to Galadima, Ibrahim Waiya, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, said in a statement that supporters of the governor should close their eyes since victory is certain.
Kano functions according to its own civic memory, political consciousness, and historical rhythm.
“The electorate, whose allegiance has always been contingent on performance, character, trust, and credibility, ultimately holds the power in the state,” he stated.
But through its National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, the NNPP warned the Governor of an imminent disaster and reminded him that “this is not the first time such a betrayal has occurred in the political history of Kano.”
The majority of elected officials, including almost all local government chairmen and council members, 120 out of 126 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, and the majority of Kano representatives in the National Assembly, joined Alhaji Abubakar Rimi when he defected from the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) to the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) in the early 1980s.
However, voters provided a clear victory: Mallam Aliyu Sabo Bakin Zuwo of the PRP finished second in the 1983 gubernatorial election, humiliatingly defeating Rimi. The fact that only one of the 120 state assembly members who defected with Rimi was re-elected is even more revealing; this should serve as a harsh reminder to any politician who is considering a career in treason.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that people who sacrifice honor for dishonesty and loyalty for expediency almost never escape public censure. The masses of Kano will always be loyal to principled leadership because the truth never goes away.
At Kano’s Singer Market on Thursday, Kwankwaso and Yusuf put their popularity to the test by making separate appearances to show support for vendors following a terrible fire disaster.
A multitude of fans cheered Kwankwaso when he arrived at the market initially, and they also cheered Governor Yusuf when he visited a few hours later.
Kwankwaso’s appearance and greeting served as a reminder that the godfather’s influence is still felt throughout the state, and Governor Yusuf promised financial help and prompt government involvement to the impacted traders.
