…Kwankwaso said Yusuf’s exit from the NNPP shocked many Nigerians
KANO, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Kwankwaso criticized Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf over his latest round of appointments, warning that the governor would regret abandoning the NNPP for the APC, as Yusuf moved to consolidate his political base ahead of the 2027 elections.
The developments came the same day former Kano State governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, declared his willingness to reconcile with Kwankwaso, despite years of political rivalry.
Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s 2023 presidential candidate and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, described Yusuf’s defection as an act of deep betrayal, insisting that the governor and his allies would eventually pay a political price for abandoning the party.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Kwankwaso said Yusuf’s exit from the NNPP shocked many Nigerians and left him personally struggling to understand how events unfolded. He noted that the circumstances surrounding the defection appeared confusing and unreal.
“Many people came to me thinking there was an arrangement between us or between me and those around him. Even I sometimes find it hard to believe what happened,” he said.
The former governor expressed confidence that time would expose the consequences of the decision, accusing Yusuf of surrendering the mandate of NNPP supporters and the people of Kano to the Gandujiyya political camp without convincing justification.
Kwankwaso added that all the reasons communicated to him for the defection were issues that could have been resolved through dialogue, dismissing claims of internal crisis within the NNPP.
“No political party is completely free of disagreements. But to the best of my knowledge, there is no party more peaceful and stable than the NNPP,” he said.
On politicians who have left the NNPP but still claim loyalty to the Kwankwasiyya ideology, Kwankwaso said the choice was clear, likening it to choosing between light and darkness.
“If you want to practice Kwankwasiyya, stay where Kwankwasiyya is,” he declared.
He also mocked the public reception Governor Yusuf received from Ganduje upon joining the APC, saying it showed the governor had already lost politically.
“If Ganduje had the power to raise someone’s hand to victory, he would have done so in 2019 or 2023,” he said, adding that Yusuf would face serious challenges in the APC and regret his decision, whether or not he returns to the NNPP.
Kwankwaso maintained that Kano remains an NNPP stronghold and revealed that efforts were ongoing to form alliances aimed at rescuing Nigeria from its current challenges.
In contrast, Ganduje said he was open to reconciling with Kwankwaso, describing him as a brother and longtime political associate.
In an interview with BBC, Ganduje said politics should not shut the door to reconciliation, especially as Muslims. He stressed the need for unity to ensure Kano’s development and the success of the APC-led government.
On reports of a proposed 60–40 power-sharing arrangement involving Governor Yusuf, Ganduje said no such agreement had been formally communicated to him, noting that any such decision rests with the national party leadership.
Meanwhile, Governor Yusuf approved several new appointments and promotions aimed at boosting governance and service delivery in the state.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, the governor announced Abdulkadir Balarabe Kankarofi as Special Adviser on Humanitarian Affairs, while Hajia Aisha Tamburawa was appointed Special Adviser on Positive Propaganda.
Engr. Mukhtar Yusuf was promoted to Managing Director of the Water Resources Engineering and Construction Agency (WRECA), with Zakari Usman Balan named as his deputy. Dr Mukhtar Bello Maisudan was appointed Executive Secretary of the Kano State Scholarship Board, while Engr. Abba Kankarofi was elevated to Managing Director of the Kano Road and Maintenance Agency (KARMA).
Musayyib Kawu Ungoggo was also appointed Managing Director of the Kano Zoological Garden.
Governor Yusuf urged the appointees to justify the confidence placed in them through dedication, transparency and commitment, reiterating his administration’s focus on people-oriented governance under the Kano First Agenda.
Kwankwaso remains one of the most influential political figures in Northern Nigeria, particularly among young people. Analysts note that since the era of Malam Aminu Kano, no Northern politician has built a mass-based political ideology with as much loyalty as the Kwankwasiyya movement, symbolised by its red caps.
After serving as governor, Kwankwaso supported Ganduje as his successor, but the two later fell out politically. He subsequently backed Abba Yusuf in the 2019 election, which Yusuf lost after a controversial supplementary poll, before successfully sponsoring him again in the 2023 election.
Governor Yusuf officially defected to the APC on Monday, January 26, 2026, following his resignation from the NNPP three days earlier, ending his brief tenure in the party that brought him to power.
