In a dramatic political maneuver, the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has initiated emergency meetings to salvage his political structure following the planned defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabiru Yusuf, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Crisis Meetings at Miller Road Residence
On Monday, December 29, 2025, Kwankwaso summoned the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jibril Ismail Falgore, to his residence on Miller Road. The closed-door meeting, which commenced around 3pm, lasted for approximately four hours. This urgent gathering was confirmed as Kwankwaso reportedly cancelled a scheduled international trip to address the escalating crisis.
Furthermore, the NNPP leader called for an emergency meeting with federal lawmakers elected on the party's platform. Among those sighted at his residence were members representing the Fagge, Turauni, Nassarawa, and Rogo constituencies. The core agenda, though not officially disclosed, is widely believed to be a strategic effort by Kwankwaso to withdraw significant membership support from Governor Yusuf and thwart his proposed move to the APC.
Internal Party Rift and Conflicting Statements
The political tension reached a fever pitch with opposing declarations from top NNPP officials in Kano. The State Chairman of the party, Hon. Hashim Dungurawa, issued a strong statement distancing the NNPP from the governor's plans. He reaffirmed unwavering loyalty to Senator Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, labeling Yusuf's intended defection as a "gross betrayal of the party's trust."
Dungurawa warned the governor to respect the party and cease alignment with the APC. He also cautioned party leaders against signing any documents at the Government House, appealing to the defectors to remain for the sake of Kano's development in education, agriculture, and commerce.
In a swift and sharp counter-reaction, the NNPP Deputy State Chairman for Kano Central, Abdullahi Zubair Imam Abiya, directed members to ignore Dungurawa's position. Abiya publicly urged Kwankwaso to instead join Governor Yusuf in returning to the APC, arguing that this move would solidify the Kwankwasiyya Movement's influence in Kano politics, calling it the "best option."
Endorsements, Defiance, and Deepening Division
The crisis was further ignited by reports that Speaker Falgore, less than 24 hours before meeting Kwankwaso, had led stakeholders from his Rogo constituency to endorse the governor's defection. This endorsement train, reportedly fronted by the Director-General of Protocol at the Government House, Hon. Abdullahi Sani Rogo, also called on Kwankwaso to support the move for Kano's overall interest.
The impending defection has created palpable divisions among lawmakers, cabinet members, and stakeholders. A federal lawmaker from the NNPP, who spoke anonymously, revealed that the party's 13 members are deeply split and have not finalized a collective decision on whether to follow the governor or stay with Kwankwaso.
However, a notable stance of defiance came from Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, the sole NNPP senator from Kano Central. He has vowed to remain loyal to Kwankwaso, resisting pressure from Governor Yusuf and refusing to be part of what he terms a betrayal of the party's trust.
The unfolding saga presents a critical test for the NNPP's cohesion and the future of the Kwankwasiyya political movement in its key stronghold of Kano State, with significant ramifications for the political landscape ahead of the 2027 elections.
