A major political crisis is brewing in Kano State as the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has issued a stern directive to the state governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf. Kwankwaso has told his political protégé to relinquish the governorship if he plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso's Ultimatum to Governor Yusuf
The dramatic development unfolded on Saturday, January 3, 2026, when Senator Kwankwaso addressed supporters and stakeholders in Kano. His statement was a direct reaction to intense speculation that Governor Yusuf is planning to cross over to the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strongly-worded challenge, the former governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement expressed surprise and disappointment at the rumours. He was quoted by Trust Radio as saying, "If you have 30 governors, why must you take Kano State governor? Is he yours? He is the only one left for us in the Government House."
Kwankwaso added a clear ultimatum: "Those instigating him (Governor Yusuf) to go should tell him to drop the governorship for us and go, since the governorship is not meant for only one person." This public declaration marks a significant and potentially irreparable crack in the relationship between the political godfather and his successor.
The Stakes for NNPP and 2027 Ambitions
The implications of this rift are monumental for the NNPP's national prospects. Kano State is the only state currently governed by the NNPP. If Governor Yusuf, along with his cabinet and the party's state and federal legislators, defects to the APC, the party would lose its sole executive stronghold in Nigeria.
This scenario would effectively leave Rabiu Kwankwaso, a presidential hopeful, as a national leader without a governing territory just before the 2027 presidential race. Political insiders suggest that Governor Yusuf's rumoured move is an attempt to liberate himself from Kwankwaso's perceived overbearing influence and to align directly with the federal government.
By joining the APC, Yusuf would potentially secure access to federal resources and the political advantage often termed "federal might". This would bolster his ability to contest and possibly win the 2027 gubernatorial election independently, without relying solely on the Kwankwasiyya political machinery.
Denials, Tensions, and a Precarious Future
Amid the growing tension, Kwankwaso has previously denied any plans for himself or his group to join another party. A communique issued after a meeting at the Kwankwasiyya House in Kano and signed by the party's national legal adviser, Magaji Mato, sought to clarify this position.
However, the current public fallout with Governor Yusuf suggests that the denials may not extend to the actions of individual party members. The political landscape in Kano is now on high alert, with realignments and defections likely to shape the battle for control of Nigeria's most populous state.
The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf will heed his mentor's demand to resign, attempt to mend fences within the NNPP, or proceed with a defection that could reshape the political map of Northern Nigeria ahead of 2027.
