Kwankwaso Demands Kano Governor Yusuf's Resignation Amid Defection Rumors

Kwankwaso Issues Ultimatum to Kano Governor

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the influential leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has publicly called on Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to relinquish his gubernatorial office should he proceed with plans to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The demand was made on Saturday, January 4, 2026, during an address to supporters and stakeholders at his residence in Kano, Nigeria.

Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and a prominent figure in Nigerian politics, emphasized that the mandate that brought Governor Yusuf to power belongs to the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya movement, not to the governor as an individual. He reportedly stated, 'Those instigating him to go should tell him to drop the governorship for us and go, since the governorship is not meant for only one person.'

Political Mentorship and Alleged Betrayal

The relationship between Kwankwaso and Governor Yusuf has been a long-standing one, with Kwankwaso widely regarded as Yusuf's political mentor. Yusuf served as Kwankwaso's personal assistant and later as Commissioner of Works, Housing, and Transport during Kwankwaso's tenure as governor. Governor Yusuf was elected on the NNPP platform in March 2023, a victory largely attributed to Kwankwaso's backing and the strength of the Kwankwasiyya movement.

Reports of Governor Yusuf's potential defection to the APC have been circulating widely, with some sources suggesting an announcement could come as early as January 7 or January 12, 2026. The APC in Kano State has openly expressed its readiness to welcome Governor Yusuf into its fold. Kwankwaso has described the rumored defection as a 'betrayal' and a 'nightmare,' expressing deep disappointment over the development.

Internal Turmoil and Party Realignments

The speculation surrounding Governor Yusuf's defection has plunged the NNPP in Kano State into significant internal turmoil. The NNPP currently holds only one governorship seat nationwide, which is in Kano State, making Yusuf's potential exit a substantial blow to the party.

In response to the escalating crisis, the NNPP's National Working Committee (NWC) dissolved its executive committees at the state, local government, and ward levels in Kano State on January 2, 2026. Furthermore, a Kano State High Court has affirmed an acting state chairman for the NNPP in Kano, upholding the suspension of a former chairman who was accused of disparaging Governor Yusuf. Political analysts suggest that Governor Yusuf's alleged move is an attempt to secure his political future ahead of the 2027 general elections and to assert independence from Kwankwaso's perceived influence.