Planned defection: Kwankwaso’s loyalists shun Kano Gov’s event

Loyalists of former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, on Sunday, stayed away as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf made his first public appearance since reports emerged of his plan to defect from the New Nigeria People’s Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Governor Yusuf had been out of public view for more than a week and was said to have been in Abuja during the period.

Yusuf resurfaced on Sunday at the graduation ceremony and distribution of empowerment packages to 2,260 beneficiaries drawn from various state-run institutes.

The beneficiaries were from the Film Institute, Poultry Institute, Livestock Institute, Driving Institute, Fisheries Institute, Horticulture Institute, Informatics Institute and Development Journalism Institute. The event took place at the Open Space Theatre, Government House, Kano.

At the event, the embattled NNPP state chairman and an ally of Kwankwaso, Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, was absent, while Zubairu Abiya, who emerged as a loyalist of the governor, was in attendance and officially acknowledged as the new party chairman.

It was also observed that key loyalists of Kwankwaso who are reportedly opposed to the reported defection plan were absent. They include the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso; the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Yusuf Kofar Mata; the Commissioner for Internal Security, AVM Ibrahim Umar (rtd); and the Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa.

However, several commissioners, local government chairmen, members of the Kano State House of Assembly and other political appointees attended the event.

Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Ismail Jibril Falgore, and the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Farouk Ibrahim were also present.

Delivering his speech, Governor Yusuf avoided any political statement amid heightened tension among some party supporters at the venue, with groups stationed at the entrance of the theatre expressing anger over the unfolding political developments.

“Whoever among them comes here will live to remember what we will do to him. They dare not come here, betrayers,” a leader of one of the groups was heard saying, as others echoed support.

Kwankwaso intensifies effort to reclaim grassroots groups

Meanwhile, amid speculation over an imminent political realignment in the state, Kwankwaso, the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, has intensified efforts to consolidate his grassroots base following a reported fallout with his long-time protégé, Governor Yusuf.

For over a week, Kwankwaso has been receiving delegations of grassroots political groups, ward-level structures and youth organisations at his residences in Kano and Abuja, with the groups publicly reaffirming their loyalty to the Kwankwasiyya ideology and leadership.

Most of the delegations comprise small but symbolic grassroots groups, former campaign foot soldiers and local mobilisers who played key roles in the NNPP’s 2023 electoral victory in Kano. During the visits, speakers have consistently pledged allegiance to Kwankwaso, distancing themselves from what they described as “elite-driven political manoeuvres”.

Political observers say the visits, though modest in number, are part of a broader strategy to reassure core supporters that the Kwankwasiyya movement remains intact despite uncertainty surrounding Yusuf’s political future.

However, while Kwankwaso appears to be tightening his grip on the grassroots, Yusuf is believed to have secured the backing of a significant majority of elected and appointed officials in the state, including commissioners, special advisers, lawmakers and local government chairmen.

Sources within Kano’s political circle said that most government appointees have aligned with the governor, citing his control of state power and resources as a decisive factor ahead of any possible defection.

“The reality is that those holding offices tend to follow where power is. Kwankwaso still commands emotional loyalty at the grassroots, but the governor controls the machinery of government,” a senior NNPP source said.

Although Yusuf has not publicly confirmed a break, both camps have issued statements pointing to widening differences, particularly over political control, appointments and future alignments ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Allies of the former governor argue that the soul of the Kwankwasiyya movement lies not in government positions but in its mass following, particularly among youths, traders and low-income earners drawn to its populist message. During recent meetings, Kwankwaso reportedly urged supporters to remain calm and focused, assuring them that political realignments are temporary and that the movement’s ideology would continue to shape Kano politics.

On the other hand, Yusuf’s supporters contend that governance realities require broader political alliances, especially at the federal level, where Kano needs cooperation to attract projects and funding.