Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), marking a major political realignment in the state’s power structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The defection, which took place on January 26, 2026, comes less than three years after Yusuf won the governorship election on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). His return to the APC follows a prolonged political rift with NNPP’s national leader and his former ally, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Governor Yusuf’s move was immediately reinforced by influential APC figures in Kano. Former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje publicly welcomed him back to the party and reportedly assured him of an unchallenged APC governorship ticket for the 2027 elections. In a further show of support, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin announced the rebranding of his political support group to align fully with Yusuf’s reelection bid.
The defection triggered a wave of political movement across the state. Twenty-one members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight federal lawmakers, and all 44 local government chairmen followed the governor into the APC, significantly strengthening the party’s grassroots and legislative dominance in Kano.
However, the switch has sparked sharp reactions from the NNPP. The party described Yusuf’s defection as a betrayal of its mandate and supporters. Tensions escalated further when Kwankwaso’s son resigned from his position as a commissioner in the Kano State cabinet, signaling a complete breakdown of ties between the governor and the Kwankwasiyya political bloc.
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Political observers believe the development could reshape Kano’s political landscape and redefine party competition in the build-up to the 2027 elections.