The Governor of Kano State, Abba Yusuf, has reportedly held a secret midnight meeting with his political godfather Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso at his Miller Road residence in Kano in a last-ditch effort to persuade him to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
according to DAILY NIGERIAN, the meeting took place on Tuesday night, with the governor arriving around midnight in a private vehicle alongside a go-between identified as Sarkin Gobir (not the Emir of Gobir). The closed-door talks reportedly lasted over an hour.
Despite the late-night shuttle diplomacy, insiders said the governor failed to convince the former Kano governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement to dump the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) for the APC.
Barely days after the Kano meeting, Governor Yusuf reportedly jetted out to France on Friday to meet with President Bola Tinubu, where he is expected to brief the president on the outcome of his engagement with his estranged political mentor and map out the next steps following his planned defection.
Sources familiar with the matter alleged that President Tinubu is keen on having Kwankwaso join the APC, prompting the governor’s midnight move to make a final push.
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However, Kwankwaso appeared to shut the door firmly on the overtures. A day after the meeting, he addressed supporters at his residence, declaring that he was not for sale.
“First, we know that betrayal is not good. Everybody knows how that party is losing the sympathy of the people, especially with regards to insecurity and the economy,” Kwankwaso said.
“People used to say in Nigeria that everyone has a price tag. If you are looking for who has no price tag, come to Rabiu Kwankwaso.”
Political insiders said Governor Yusuf’s unprovoked rebellion within the NNPP has hit a major hurdle, particularly after APC powerbrokers observed the backlash trailing his planned defection in Kano.
While NNPP lawmakers at both the State and National Assemblies, as well as several local government chairmen, are reportedly defecting to the APC alongside the governor, the bulk of grassroots supporters have remained loyal to Kwankwaso.
“APC leaders are keenly observing what is happening in Kano. The Kwankwasiyya supporters have made a bold and clear statement that they are with Kwankwaso,” a source said.
According to insiders, the former governor is now gaining sympathy across the state, a development that could reshape Kano’s political calculations.
READ ALSO: Heavy Security As Kwankwaso–Yusuf Rift Deepens Over APC Defection Plot
“If Abba joins APC, Kwankwaso’s candidate may likely get a sympathy vote,” the source added.
Another source revealed that the growing public reaction is the reason behind the last-minute push to persuade Kwankwaso to cross over to the ruling party.
“The people’s reaction is the reason why they are making this final effort to convince Kwankwaso to join APC,” the source said.
Meanwhile, top leaders of the Kano APC — including former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, APC state chairman Abdullahi Abbas, Nasiru Gawuna, and Murtala Garo — have reportedly returned to Nigeria after their end-of-year holidays and Umrah pilgrimage.
Governor Yusuf is expected to consult with the APC leadership before making a formal announcement on his defection, a move that continues to send shockwaves through Kano’s already heated political landscape.