In a move signaling a massive realignment in Northern politics, President Bola Tinubu on Sunday showered Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State with high praise, just as the Governor officially delayed his anticipated exit from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Council (APC).
In a statement released by Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu commended Yusuf on his 63rd birthday, describing him as a leader of “integrity, modesty, and humility.” The President specifically lauded Yusuf’s urban renewal projects and his decision to declare a state of emergency in education, which Tinubu noted has significantly boosted student performance in NECO exams.
“He has embarked on urban renewal programmes, building bridges and road networks… re-echoing the commitment to grassroots development championed by the late Mallam Aminu Kano,” the President stated.
While the defection was widely expected to occur on Monday, January 5, 2026, it has now been rescheduled for January 12. Sources indicate that Governor Yusuf requested more time following a high-level meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima in Abuja on Friday. The extension is reportedly to allow for final consultations with state legislators and stakeholders who are yet to fully align with the move.
The political earthquake has already seen 25 out of 27 NNPP members of the Kano State House of Assembly, including Speaker Yusuf Falgore, endorsing the Governor’s transition to the ruling party.
The move has triggered a bitter fallout between Yusuf and his long-time political godfather, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. The NNPP National Leader has reportedly expressed deep disappointment, arguing that the defection would strip the Kwankwasiyyamovement of its only executive stronghold.
Kwankwaso has gone as far as suggesting that if the Governor is determined to leave, he should also be prepared to relinquish the governorship mandate won under the NNPP banner. Similarly, NNPP State Chairman Hashimu Dungurawa warned that joining the APC would be a betrayal of the voters who rejected the ruling party in 2023.
Despite the internal friction, the Kano APC has officially rolled out the red carpet. State Chairman Abdullahi Abbas welcomed the Governor “with open arms,” citing the need for stability in the state.
Analysts suggest Yusuf’s entry into the APC may neutralize the 2027 governorship ambitions of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, effectively making Yusuf the APC’s undisputed leader in the “bastion of progressive politics.”
As the January 12 deadline approaches, all eyes remain on Kano to see if the NNPP’s only sitting governor will finalise the cross-over that could redefine the 2027 electoral map.