Speculation has intensified over the possible defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
This followed public declarations by some of his aides and local government party leaders for the APC.
The development has sparked debate within the state’s political space, particularly over whether such a move would have the approval of Yusuf’s political mentor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Although Governor Yusuf has not made any official statement on the matter, a viral video circulated on Sunday in which the Governor’s Director of Protocol, Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, announced that political stakeholders in Rogo Local Government Area had resolved to follow the governor to the APC.
Rogo, who was flanked by party leaders from the area, said key figures within the Kwankwasiyya movement in the local government had agreed that both Kwankwaso and Yusuf should defect to the APC in the interest of the people.
“We at Rogo Local Government, under the leadership of Speaker Jibrin Ismail Falgore, myself, the council chairman, caucus leaders, elders, women and youth leaders, have resolved that Kwankwaso is our leader, and that he and Governor Yusuf should take us to APC,” he said.
He added that the resolution was taken in the best interest of the people, the country and Kwankwaso’s political future, noting that stakeholders had also agreed to shun abusive politics.
Rogo stressed that while they remained loyal to the Kwankwasiyya ideology, joining the APC was in their view, the best option for now.
In a related development, the Director-General, Media and Publicity at the Kano Government House, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, also publicly supported the decision of his Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area caucus to follow Governor Yusuf to any party he chooses.
This followed a meeting of NNPP caucus members in Dawakin Tofa LGA, where the council chairman, Anas Danmaliki declared that he and all councillors in the area would align with Governor Yusuf.
Reacting to the declaration, Tofa said, “I, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, as one of the caucus of the party in the LGA, am with whatever Danmaliki said 1,000 percent.”
As of the time of filing this report, neither Governor Yusuf nor Senator Kwankwaso has issued an official statement on the speculation, leaving the political direction of the NNPP in Kano a subject of growing public interest.
