Governor Abba Yusuf Asserts Leadership of Kano APC Following Defection from New Nigeria People’s Party

Governor Abba Yusuf defends his defection to the APC, asserting he is the state party leader and not answerable to former governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 8:38 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Nigerian

Kano Governor Claims Supreme Party Authority Over Former National Chairman

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has officially positioned himself as the primary leader of the All Progressives Congress within Kano State, explicitly stating he is not subordinate to Abdullahi Ganduje. In a public response to the political fallout following his high profile defection from the New Nigeria People’s Party, Yusuf emphasized that his new status as governor grants him the leadership of the state party structure. While he acknowledged a level of mutual respect for Ganduje, the former national chairman of the party, Yusuf insisted that he would not be subject to instructions regarding the administrative or political affairs of the state.

Break from Kwankwasiyya Movement Justified by Internal Party Strife

The governor addressed sharp criticisms from his political mentor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who had accused him of betraying the Kwankwasiyya movement. Yusuf countered these claims by revealing that he and his allies had repeatedly warned NNPP leadership about a looming internal crisis, but their advice was systematically ignored. He argued that the breakaway was a proactive measure taken to protect the interests of millions of Kano residents. According to Yusuf, acting early to leave the embattled party has resulted in a period of calm and clarity for his administration.

Counter Accusations of Betrayal Target Kwankwaso’s Shift to ADC

In a pointed rebuttal to the narrative of betrayal, Governor Yusuf questioned the transparency of his former mentor’s own political maneuvers. He noted that members of the Kwankwasiyya movement were reportedly not consulted before Kwankwaso’s alleged move toward the African Democratic Congress. Yusuf queried whether such unilateral decisions by the movement’s leadership did not also constitute a form of betrayal toward the rank and file members who had supported the NNPP during the previous election cycle.