The political rift between the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has further widened following the governor’s plans to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tension between the two long-time political allies has been simmering in recent weeks, with Kwankwaso reportedly feeling sidelined and inadequately consulted on key political decisions taken by the governor.
Governor Yusuf, however, appears determined to chart an independent political course, having secured the backing of most NNPP lawmakers in the state and a majority of local government chairmen.
Sources close to the development revealed that Yusuf has already obtained an APC membership card from his ward, signaling readiness for a formal defection scheduled for January 12. The governor is said to believe that the move is within his political rights, stressing that consultations were held with the electorate and relevant party stakeholders before reaching the decision.
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Reacting to the unfolding events, Senator Kwankwaso issued a stern warning to members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement who have defected or are planning to do so, demanding that they compensate the Movement for the support, resources and labour invested in their political rise.
Addressing loyalists, Kwankwaso argued that political defections are rarely without incentives. “For someone to abandon his house and go elsewhere, it does not just happen without reason. These people, no doubt, have collected ‘goods’,” he said.
The former Kano governor also cautioned supporters against being swayed by what he described as “short-term gains,” noting that many politicians who defect later regret their actions. According to him, betrayal leaves lasting consequences that extend beyond individuals to their families and lineage. “The word ‘betrayer’ follows a person; him, his family and even his lineage,” Kwankwaso warned.
Meanwhile, the Kano State House of Assembly on Friday officially endorsed Governor Yusuf’s planned defection from the NNPP, citing unresolved leadership crises and multiple court cases within the party that could threaten the governor’s mandate.
READ ALSO: Kano Politics: Gov. Yusuf Set To Join APC As Kwankwasiyya Camp Splits
Justifying the decision, the House Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini, said remaining in the NNPP poses serious risks due to factional disputes and ongoing litigations. He warned that the party’s internal crisis could lead to a scenario similar to what happened in Zamfara State, where the Supreme Court ruled that the APC had no valid candidates, resulting in the loss of the governorship and legislative seats.
“The NNPP is currently plagued by factional leadership disputes and multiple litigations, creating uncertainty over the validity of its structure and nominations ahead of future elections,” Hussaini said.
He added that an existing court judgment recognises a particular faction of the NNPP, making it unsafe for elected officials to remain in the party. “We cannot continue to remain in the party and risk a repeat of the legal disaster that happened in Zamfara State,” he stressed.