Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside 31 lawmakers and 44 local government chairmen, marking a major political realignment in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
The defection, which took place on Monday at the Government House in Kano, comes three days after Yusuf resigned from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Among those who joined him were nine members of the House of Representatives and 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly.
Top APC leaders witnessed the event, including former Kano State Governor and APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin, Minister of Housing and Urban Development Abdullahi Ata, and Kano APC Chairman Abdullahi Abbas.
Notably absent from the ceremony were the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, and three commissioners who later tendered their resignations from the state cabinet.
Speaking after flagging off the APC e-registration exercise, Governor Yusuf said his decision was motivated by the collective interest of Kano State rather than personal ambition.
“This decision is not driven by personal interest or political ambition,” Yusuf said. “It is a deliberate move in the interest of unity, peace, stability, progress and sustainable development of Kano State.”
Formally announcing his defection, he added: “On this day, Monday, January 26, 2026, I, Abba Kabir Yusuf, your governor, hereby announce that I have joined the All Progressives Congress.”
Yusuf explained that aligning Kano with the ruling party at the federal level would strengthen cooperation with the central government and attract more development opportunities. He also disclosed his acceptance of a proposal to establish an independent Kano Elders Council, tasked with promoting the state’s development without political bias.
In his remarks, APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje revealed that all APC governorship aspirants in Kano had stepped down in support of Yusuf’s second-term bid.
“I want to formally announce that all governorship contenders in Kano State have withdrawn in support of your second term,” Ganduje said, adding that under APC policy, serving governors automatically assume leadership of the party in their states.
“You are now the leader of the APC in Kano State, and we pledge our loyalty and full support,” he declared.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who had previously been linked to governorship ambitions, also publicly endorsed Yusuf, leading chants backing the governor for a second term.
Meanwhile, three commissioners resigned from Yusuf’s cabinet following the defection. They include the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mustapha Kwankwaso; the Commissioner for Internal Security, Air Vice Marshal Ibrahim Umar (retd); and the Commissioner for Special Duties, Nasiru Sule Garo.
Following the development, NNPP symbols at the Government House have been replaced with APC insignia, although Yusuf’s signature red cap reportedly remains. The governor has also become APC cardholder number 001 in Kano State, as the party delayed its e-registration process to formally accommodate his entry.
