The political landscape of Northern Nigeria is bracing for a massive tectonic shift as reports emerge that the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, are set to defect from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). This bombshell revelation, initially sparked by a viral video of Abdullahi Ibrahim Rogo, the Director-General of Protocol at the Kano State Government House, suggests that the “people of Kano” have collectively agreed that this move is the best path forward for the state’s prosperity.
The Rogo Declaration: A Consensus for Change?
In a video released on Sunday, December 28, 2025, Abdullahi Rogo stated that after high-level meetings involving the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Jibrin Ismail Falgore, and other key Kwankwasiyya stakeholders, a resolution was reached. According to Rogo, the move is rooted in the “best interest of the people, the country, and Kwankwaso’s political future.” He emphasized that while the movement remains loyal to its core ideologies, joining the ruling APC is seen as a strategic necessity to secure a second term for Governor Yusuf and preserve the Kwankwasiyya heritage.
Inside the Strategic Realignment
The rumored defection, reportedly scheduled to be formalized in early January 2026, is seen by many as a masterstroke in political survival. Sources suggest that:
- Securing 2027: Governor Yusuf reportedly believes that aligning with the APC is the most viable route to ensuring a smooth re-election bid in 2027 with the backing of the federal government’s machinery.
- The “Tinubu Deal”: Whispers of a “2027 deal” between President Bola Tinubu and the Kano leadership have intensified, with the presidency looking to solidify its hold on Nigeria’s most populous voting bloc.
- Strategic Renegotiation: While Kwankwaso initially hesitated, insiders claim he is now renegotiating terms to ensure the Kwankwasiyya movement maintains its identity and influence within the broader APC structure.
Internal Crisis: The NNPP Fights Back
The news has not been received well by the national leadership of the NNPP. The party’s State Chairman, Hashim Suleiman Dungurawa, has issued a stern warning, describing the potential move as a “gross betrayal of trust.” He insists that the party and Kwankwaso (publicly at least) do not approve of the defection and has urged supporters to remain patient. This suggests a deepening rift within the party, with the governor’s camp pushing for the merger while die-hard loyalists fear the loss of their independent platform.
What This Means for Kano and Nigeria
If this defection materializes, it would leave the NNPP without a single sitting governor in Nigeria, effectively turning the party into a minor regional player. For the APC, absorbing the Kwankwasiyya movement would mean ending the long-standing rivalry between the Ganduje and Kwankwaso factions—a feud that has defined Kano politics for a decade. However, the biggest question remains: How will the grassroots supporters, who have traditionally seen the APC as an adversary, react to this sudden alliance?
Summary:
Kano’s political future hangs in the balance as Governor Abba Yusuf and Rabiu Kwankwaso are reportedly finalizing plans to defect to the APC, a move aimed at securing the 2027 elections despite stiff opposition from the NNPP leadership.
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