Former Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, has publicly defended Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf against criticism over his anticipated defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Shekarau argued that such political realignments are normal and pointed to the serial defections of Governor Yusuf's political godfather, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, as a precedent.
"Kwankwaso Set The Precedent" - Shekarau's Defence
In an interview with the online platform DCL Hausa on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, monitored in Kano, the two-term former governor of Kano State challenged the narrative of betrayal. Shekarau questioned why Kwankwaso was now asking Governor Yusuf to relinquish the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) mandate if he defects, when he did not do the same in the past.
"Has he forgotten that he moved from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during his tenure as governor without dropping the governorship seat?" Shekarau asked rhetorically. He insisted that Kwankwaso established this political precedent in 2013 and that Governor Yusuf is merely following a similar path.
Revisiting The NNPP's Fractured Foundation
Shekarau also revisited the circumstances that led to the formation and his eventual exit from the NNPP in Kano. He revealed that a major point of contention was a failed power-sharing agreement among stakeholders after he and Kwankwaso joined the party from the APC.
According to him, a committee was formed with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as chairman to devise a formula for sharing elective positions and appointments. "Abba spent about three months without delivering the assignment. Suddenly, a list came out and there was no single person from our side except me," Shekarau disclosed.
This unresolved dispute prompted Shekarau and his supporters to form a 30-man committee, which ultimately recommended leaving the NNPP. "I rejected the arrangement because I could not take a senatorial ticket alone while my people got nothing," he added.
Defection Is Not Betrayal, Says Shekarau
Shekarau maintained that political decisions, including changing parties, should not be automatically labelled as acts of betrayal. He emphasized that what matters is whether a leader consults his followers and acts in their perceived collective interest.
"In life, one chooses for himself. If you have tangible reasons and the people you are with are okay with it, that is all," he stated. He noted that Kwankwaso himself had defected multiple times—from PDP to APC, back to PDP, and later to NNPP—and therefore Governor Yusuf should be allowed to make his choice without being vilified.
"If Abba has his own reasons and those around him agree, I don't see any betrayal here," Shekarau concluded, framing the potential move as a standard part of Nigeria's dynamic political landscape.
