NNPP Says Kano Governor Doesn’t Need Kwankwaso’s Backing to Join APC
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has insisted that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State is free to determine his political future without seeking endorsement from Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the party’s embattled former national leader.
In a statement on Monday, the NNPP said Governor Yusuf, who is the party’s only sitting governor, does not need Kwankwaso’s approval either to remain in the NNPP or to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other political party of his choosing.
The clarification comes amid growing speculation that Yusuf may be preparing to leave the NNPP for the APC, a move that could reshape political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections. Recent reports had claimed that Kwankwaso had endorsed the governor’s alleged defection — a suggestion the party rejected as inaccurate and misleading.
NNPP national secretary Ogini Olaposi emphasized that while the party advises the governor to stay, it respects his constitutional right to make his own decision, including joining another party. It stated that there are no “dictatorial tendencies” or pressures that can force Yusuf to remain in the NNPP against his will.
The party also told Kwankwaso and members of his Kwankwasiya movement to stop distracting the governor and allow him to continue his work in Kano. According to the NNPP, the issue of endorsement should not be conflated with Yusuf’s personal political choices.
Kwankwaso’s media team has separately denied that he ever endorsed the governor’s potential defection, stressing that the reports suggesting his support were false and without factual basis. The NNPP leader reaffirmed his commitment to the party’s ideals and warned that misinformation about his stance was likely intended to mislead the public.
As political maneuvering intensifies in Kano and nationally, observers say developments around Governor Yusuf’s affiliation may have implications for party strength and electoral strategies ahead of 2027.