Reporting by Daily Post indicates that the rumored move of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been delayed. Initially expected to take place on Monday, January 5, the official ceremony was reportedly pushed back to allow for further ‘high-level consultations’ between the Governor’s camp and the presidency.
Speculation about the defection has dominated Kano politics for weeks, following several high-profile meetings between Yusuf and APC leaders. Sources suggest that the delay may be linked to internal friction within the Kano APC chapter, where some leaders are wary of the power shift the Governor’s entry would cause. For now, Yusuf remains the only NNPP governor in the country, though his long-term loyalty remains a subject of intense debate.
Validating reports from Vanguard and The Nation track the political tension. Vanguard noted that ‘the defection would effectively end the Kwankwasiyya influence in Kano,’ while The Nation quoted an APC senator who congratulated Yusuf on his birthday, calling him a ‘committed democratic leader’—a move seen as a public invitation.
Echotitbits take: This is ‘delay but not denial.’ In Nigerian politics, a postponed defection usually means the ‘price’ of the move is still being negotiated—specifically, who controls the party structure in the state. If Yusuf moves, it could lead to a total realignment of the North-West political bloc ahead of 2027.
Source: TheNation – https://thenationonlineng.net/governor-yusufs-planned-defection-to-apc-shifted-to-january-12/ January 5, 2026
Photo Credit: TheGuardian
