Kano NNPP in Disarray as Key Caucus Boycotts Kwankwaso’s Meeting Amid Governor Abba Yusuf’s Defection Rumours
By Our Correspondent
Kano State’s political landscape witnessed a major upheaval today as a high-level caucus meeting convened by the National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, ended in widespread embarrassment following a mass boycott by prominent party stakeholders.
The meeting, held at Senator Kwankwaso’s Miller Road residence in Kano, was widely perceived as an emergency attempt to address the deepening crisis arising from reports of the impending defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, the absence of key party figures underscored the gravity of the internal rift threatening the party’s stability in the state.
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Political observers note that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is reportedly pursuing his political realignment independently, without the consent or endorsement of Senator Kwankwaso. This development has significantly weakened the long-standing belief that the Kwankwasiyya movement operates under a unified command, instead revealing serious fractures within the NNPP’s Kano structure.
In an unprecedented development, invited stakeholders—including senators, members of the House of Representatives, members of the Kano State House of Assembly, commissioners, local government chairmen, party executives, and caucus leaders—largely stayed away from the meeting. Only a handful of loyalists, reportedly from outside Kano State, were present, a situation many analysts described as a major political setback for the NNPP leader.
While the meeting struggled to gain traction, several NNPP power brokers and caucus leaders were simultaneously seen paying solidarity visits to the Acting Chairman of the NNPP, Hon. Imam Zubairu (Abiya), who is believed to enjoy the backing of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. These parallel engagements were widely interpreted as a clear indication that the party’s political centre of gravity in Kano has shifted.
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Reacting to the unfolding situation, an APC chieftain, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed optimism over the expected defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. According to the source, APC stakeholders are prepared to fully support the governor, describing his anticipated move as a boost to the party’s electoral prospects ahead of the 2027 general elections.
On the speculation surrounding a possible defection of Senator Kwankwaso to the APC, the source dismissed the idea, stressing that such a move would be unacceptable to key party leaders and lawmakers. The source further urged Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to work closely with established APC leaders, describing former Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, as a statesman whose political role is now being re-evaluated by former critics.
The crisis has also reverberated across NNPP grassroots structures. A local government party chairman from Kano Central admitted that many party members are reassessing their earlier positions, acknowledging past political misjudgments and calling for reconciliation.
Political analysts observe that the rapid pace of the unfolding realignment has surprised even seasoned observers, noting that developments which took years to materialize politically have occurred within a matter of days.
Even within Senator Kwankwaso’s inner circle, confidence appears to be waning. A caucus member who attended the meeting reportedly expressed concern that recent events may have overtaken the party leader, urging him to take steps to preserve his political legacy.
As the situation continues to evolve, today’s boycott is widely regarded as a defining moment that may mark the beginning of a new and irreversible phase in Kano State politics.
