Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf will formally defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, according to sources familiar with the plan.
Yusuf, the only serving governor elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has arrived in Abuja to finalise arrangements for the defection.
APC Leaders Prepare to Receive Yusuf
Sources said Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje will receive the governor in Abuja.
In Kano, party leaders have begun preparations ahead of the move. The APC state chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, reportedly cut short his lesser hajj to issue Yusuf an APC membership card at his Diso Ward in Gwale Local Government Area.
Meeting With Ganduje Planned
Yusuf is also expected to meet with Ganduje within the week. The meeting will focus on strengthening the APC’s structure and political strategy in Kano State.
Party insiders said the defection could significantly reshape the political landscape ahead of future elections.
Tinubu Initially Hesitated
Sources disclosed that President Bola Tinubu initially hesitated to accept Yusuf’s defection without Rabiu Kwankwaso, the governor’s political mentor.
According to the sources, the president preferred Yusuf to defect alongside Kwankwaso, who commands strong grassroots support in Kano and parts of the North. However, after persuasion efforts failed, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma reportedly intervened and convinced the president to accept Yusuf’s move.
Rift With Kwankwaso Camp Deepens
Yusuf’s decision has reportedly widened the rift between him and Kwankwaso, his longtime benefactor.
The move has triggered backlash within the Kwankwasiyya movement, with many supporters publicly restating loyalty to Kwankwaso and criticising the governor’s decision.
Despite the tension, political observers say Yusuf’s defection strengthens the APC’s position in Kano and signals a major political realignment.
