The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has confirmed that it has reserved membership card number 001 for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, as the party formally commenced its electronic membership registration (e-registration) exercise across the state.

The party’s Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Aruwa, disclosed this in an interview he granted on Thursday, saying the development was in anticipation of the governor’s imminent defection to the ruling party. According to him, the APC had deliberately delayed the take-off of the e-registration exercise to allow for what he described as a “proper and organised” entry of the governor into the party.

“We have flagged off the e-registration exercise across the 44 local government areas of the state. Anyone interested can go to their ward to register. We are also expecting the governor to defect into the party any time soon, and we have reserved card number 001 for him in his ward,” Aruwa said.

As part of preparations for the exercise, the party has inaugurated a 14-man committee to oversee the implementation of the e-registration across the state.

Earlier, the Kano State Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Abbas, disclosed that Governor Yusuf might formally register and collect his membership card between Tuesday and Wednesday, following his return to Kano after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, alongside former governor and party leader, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

Abbas made the disclosure while addressing about 1,500 ad-hoc staff engaged to conduct the exercise. He explained that the registration process was delayed due to political developments in the state, stressing that the party did not want to begin the process without allowing for the governor’s expected defection.

Meanwhile, Governor Yusuf has remained silent since returning from Abuja.

Efforts by Our sources to clarify the delay in his defection. His spokesperson, Sanusi Bature, told our reporter that he would get back, but didn’t as of press time.