Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf officially resigned from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) on Friday, January 23, 2026. The move ends his decades-long alliance with his political mentor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and signals a strategic entry into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Yusuf did not exit alone. In a coordinated display of political force, he led a massive wave of defections that included 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and all 44 Local Government Chairmen across the state. The exodus effectively transfers the administrative and legislative machinery of Nigeria’s most populous northern state to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a formal resignation letter addressed to the NNPP Chairman of Diso-Chiranchi Ward in Gwale Local Government, Yusuf cited "persistent internal crises" and "irreconcilable divisions" as the primary drivers for his departure. He noted that the party had become fractured by legal battles and leadership disputes that hindered effective governance.
"After careful reflection, and without prejudice to the party's capacity to resolve its internal challenges, I have come to the conclusion that my resignation is in the best interest of the people of Kano State," Yusuf stated in a communication released by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa. The Governor emphasised that the decision was taken in "good faith" and was guided by a commitment to the progress and unity of the state.
The reaction from the NNPP leadership has been one of sharp rebuke. The party described the Governor's exit as a "betrayal of sacred trust" and a surrender of the mandate given by the voters who supported the Kwankwasiyya movement. Despite the mass departure, Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam and Senator Rufa'i Hanga have reaffirmed their loyalty to the NNPP and Senator Kwankwaso.
Addressing a crowd of supporters at his residence shortly after the news broke, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso remained defiant. He framed the struggle as one of ideological conviction rather than political opportunism.
"I am not for sale," Kwankwaso declared to the gathering. "What keeps me grounded is our political conviction. If this struggle were about personal benefit, I would have taken the easy route long ago."
