The national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the Kano State Government of subjecting public office holders and political appointees to intense pressure to back Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso made the stunning allegation in a short video posted on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, a clip later shared by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, who said the persons, ranging from state lawmakers to chairmen and councillors, among others, were compelled to choose between the Kwankwassiya movement and the Gandujiyya (APC).
Kwankwaso said he had received several phone calls from the persons who lamented over their predicament since the political crisis erupted.
He, however, said he had permitted them to go ahead and do according to the wish of the government to ease the pressure on them.
Kwankwaso had fiercely opposed the defection plan, accusing Governor Yusuf and other NNPP office holders of betraying the mandate freely given to them by the people of Kano during the 2023 elections.
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Explaining his position, Kwankwaso said his decision was driven by the need to allow party members to exercise their political rights freely and to reduce rising internal tensions within the NNPP in Kano State.
The former governor noted that persistent disagreements, political pressure, and internal conflicts within the party had made it necessary to prioritize stability and cohesion over prolonged confrontation.
“I have received several news items, some good ones, but some so terrible,” Kwankwaso said in the video. “I received reports that the Kano State Government is compelling state officials and elected local government chairmen to sign for either Gandujiyya or Kwankwasiyya.”
He described the alleged development as disheartening, warning that such actions could provoke serious backlash from party supporters.
“Every one of our supporters would not take this lightly. It is so disheartening that the government would go down so low to be doing this,” he added.
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Despite the concerns, Kwankwaso urged his loyalists and followers not to resist the defection process, stating clearly that he would not stand in their way if they chose to join the APC.
“You should sign any documents given to you for the decamping to the APC; I have no problems with that,” he declared.
The endorsement is widely seen as a major boost for the APC ahead of future political realignments in Kano State, while raising serious questions about the future cohesion and relevance of the NNPP in its former stronghold.