Kano State has witnessed a major political shift as 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday.
The defections came shortly after Governor Abba Yusuf officially resigned from the NNPP following his meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
Yusuf announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the chairman of the Diso–Chiranchi Ward in Gwale Local Government Area, citing “deepening internal crises” and “prolonged leadership disputes” within the party.
The governor’s exit from the NNPP was carried out alongside 22 state lawmakers, eight members of the House of Representatives, and all 44 local government chairmen in Kano State.
Among the lawmakers who defected were the Speaker of the House, Jibril Falgore (Rogo), and the Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Bello Butu Butu (Tofa/Rimin Gado).
Also leaving the NNPP were the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussain (Dala), Deputy Majority Leader, Garba Shehu Fammar (Kibiya), and Chief Whip, Muddasir Ibrahim Zawachiki (Kumbotso).
During a plenary session, Speaker Falgore called each member to the podium to publicly announce their resignation from the NNPP and their decision to join the APC.
One of the lawmakers, Rabiu Shuaibu representing Dawakin Kudu, stated, “I, Shuaibu Rabiu, representing Dawakin Kudu, resign my membership of the NNPP to the APC with immediate effect from today.”
Another member, Tukur Mohammed of Fagge, also confirmed his defection, saying, “Mr Speaker, I am here to confirm I am resigning my membership of the NNPP and joining the APC.”
The list of defecting lawmakers included Zakariyya Abdullahi Nuhu (Gabasawa), Lawal Tini (Ajingi), Musa Tahir Haruna (Albasu), Ali Lawan Alhassan (Bagwai/Shanono), Ali Muhammad Tiga (Bebeji), and Hafiz Gambo (Bunkure), among others.
Reacting to the mass defection, the national leader of the NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, described the development as a betrayal and declared January 23 as “World Betrayal Day.”
Kwankwaso, who played a key role in Governor Yusuf’s emergence as Kano State governor in the 2023 election through the Kwankwasiyya political movement, expressed disappointment over the sudden shift in loyalty.
