In a dramatic volte-face that has reshaped Kano’s political landscape, a former governor of the state and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has endorsed the planned defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and other elected officials from the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso announced his decision in a short video message released on Tuesday by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, bringing to an abrupt end weeks of public tension and uncertainty within the Kano chapter of the NNPP.
The endorsement marks a sharp reversal of Kwankwaso’s earlier hardline stance. He had previously condemned the planned defections, accusing Governor Yusuf and other NNPP office holders of betraying the trust of Kano voters who elected them on the party’s platform.
However, in the latest video, the former presidential candidate said his decision was guided by the need to allow party members exercise their political rights and to douse the growing tension that had threatened to tear the NNPP apart in the state.
“I have decided to support their decision in the interest of peace and unity,” Kwankwaso said, adding that the move would help stabilise the political atmosphere in Kano.
Political observers say the endorsement is a major turning point, effectively clearing the path for Governor Yusuf and several NNPP lawmakers and appointees to formally pitch their tent with the APC.
The development is also expected to significantly alter the balance of power ahead of future elections in the state.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the crisis within the NNPP had deepened in recent days, with some commissioners, including Kwankwaso’s son, reportedly vacating their offices amid signs of an imminent cabinet reshuffle and mass defection.
By publicly backing the move, analysts believe Kwankwaso may be seeking to retain some influence over a process that had already gathered momentum beyond his control, opting to manage the fallout rather than resist it.
The APC is yet to officially comment on the endorsement, but party insiders in Kano described the development as a major boost that could further consolidate the ruling party’s grip on the state.
More details are expected to emerge in the coming days as the political realignment unfolds.
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