- NNPP national leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso described the development as a betrayal
- The governor’s defection was mirrored by a wave of political realignments across Kano State
Twenty-two lawmakers from the Kano State House of Assembly have officially left the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement came during a plenary session on Monday, just days after Governor Abba Yusuf resigned from the NNPP following his meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
EDITOR’S PICK
- ADC Requests INEC Postpone FCT Area Council Elections
- Tope Alabi Welcomes Grandchild
- CBN to Introduce New Policy to Regulate Debit Card Issuance, ATM Operations
In his resignation letter to the chairman of Diso–Chiranchi Ward in Gwale Local Government Area, Yusuf cited “deepening internal crises” and “prolonged leadership disputes” within the NNPP as reasons for his departure.
The governor’s defection was mirrored by a wave of political realignments across Kano State, involving 22 state lawmakers, eight federal House of Representatives members, and all 44 local government chairmen.
Among the defectors are key leaders of the state assembly, including Speaker Jibril Falgore (Rogo) and Deputy Speaker Muhammad Bello Butu Butu (Tofa/Rimin Gado). Other top members leaving the NNPP include Majority Leader Lawan Hussain (Dala), Deputy Majority Leader Garba Shehu Fammar (Kibiya), and Chief Whip Muddasir Ibrahim Zawachiki (Kumbotso).
A video shared on X by user @Imranmuhdz showed the formal proceedings, with Speaker Falgore inviting each member to publicly announce their defection.
Representative Rabiu Shuaibu (Dawakin Kudu) told the assembly, “I, Shuaibu Rabiu, representing Dawakin Kudu, resign my membership of the NNPP to the APC with immediate effect.” Tukur Mohammed (Fagge) also confirmed his defection, saying, “Mr Speaker, I am resigning my membership of the NNPP and joining the APC.”
Other lawmakers who joined the APC include Zakariyya Abdullahi Nuhu (Gabasawa), Lawal Tini (Ajingi), Musa Tahir Haruna (Albasu), Ali Lawan Alhassan (Bagwai/Shanono), Ali Muhammad Tiga (Bebeji), Hafiz Gambo (Bunkure), Murtala Muhammad Kadage (Garko), Abdulmajid Isah Umar (Gwale), Ahmad Ibrahim (Karaye), Alhassan Zakari (Kura/Garun Malam), Suleiman Mukhtar Ishaq (Madobi), Abdulhamid Abdul (Minjibir), Muhammad Ibrahim (Rano), Kabiru Sule Dahiru (Tarauni), and Ali Abdullahi Manager (Wudil).
Reacting to the mass defection, NNPP national leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso described the development as a betrayal, declaring January 23 as “World Betrayal Day.” Kwankwaso, who played a pivotal role in Yusuf’s rise to governorship in 2023 through the Kwankwasiyya movement, expressed disappointment at the turn of events.
FURTHER READING
