Former Kano State governor and senator, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has advised his associates serving in Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration to temporarily align with the governor’s reported move to the All Progressives Congress in order to ease mounting political tension in the state.
Kwankwaso made the appeal on Tuesday in a short video message shared on Facebook by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan.
Governor Yusuf’s reported plan to defect to the APC has strained his relationship with Kwankwaso, who is widely regarded as his political mentor.
While Kwankwaso has resisted pressure to join the APC himself, he expressed concern over claims that elected officials were being compelled to formally declare allegiance to either the Kwankwasiyya or Gandujiyya political camps.
He described reports that local government chairmen, councillors, secretaries and other officials were being asked to sign documents declaring their loyalty as troubling and unacceptable.
“On my arrival in Kano on January 13, 2026, I observed some disturbing developments, particularly the policy forcing elected officials to openly state whether they belong to Kwankwasiyya or Gandujiyya. This is unfortunate and unacceptable to our supporters,” Kwankwaso said.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Kano State Government were unsuccessful. The Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, and the governor’s spokesman, Sanusi Bature, could not be reached at the time of filing the report.
Kwankwaso recalled that the Kwankwasiyya Movement endured years of political opposition before returning to power in 2023 through strong grassroots mobilisation.
He said the movement’s objective has always been to improve the lives of Kano residents through education, employment opportunities, infrastructure and improved welfare.
He described Kano’s political contest as a clear choice between progress and regression, insisting that the Kwankwasiyya Movement operates on a defined ideological blueprint.
“Our movement has a clear direction. If you belong to it, you must follow its principles. In Kano, the choice is between light and darkness, and the people understand this clearly,” he said.
The former governor also reflected on the selection process for local government chairmen and councillors during the 2023 elections, noting that a broad-based committee oversaw the process and expressing confidence in the performance of those elected.
Addressing the reported defection crisis, Kwankwaso said many elected officials had expressed anxiety, fear and frustration since talks of a move to the APC began.
“Since the defection discussions started, many officials have been under serious pressure. Some have called me in distress, while others have experienced sleepless nights and serious health challenges,” he said.
Following consultations with key stakeholders, Kwankwaso said he decided to allow officials under pressure to temporarily declare allegiance to the governor as a practical step to reduce tension and protect them from threats.
He stressed that the move does not signal the collapse of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, noting that preparations for the 2027 elections have not yet begun.
“Our supporters should remain calm and alert. This decision is meant to douse tension and protect those under pressure. We know where everyone stands, and the time for full political engagement is still ahead,” he said.
Kwankwaso also thanked members of his caucus, many of whom he said were enticed with promises that remained unfulfilled over the past three years.
He further acknowledged Governor Yusuf for publicly recognising the achievements of his administration.
Political analyst Kabiru Sufi described Kwankwaso’s directive as a calculated long-term strategy rather than a sign of weakness.
According to Sufi, allowing supporters to temporarily align with the governor gives the movement flexibility while preserving its core strength ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Even if more people appear to follow the governor, observers will see it as a tactical move rather than a loss of support. It allows Kwankwaso to maintain influence while giving his followers room to navigate political pressure,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Kano State chapter of the APC says it has concluded preparations to receive Governor Yusuf and other political actors and is only awaiting a date from the Presidency.
The party’s state secretary, Ibrahim Zakari Sarina, said the issue was discussed at a recent APC stakeholders’ meeting, which also reviewed progress on the ongoing electronic membership registration exercise.
According to Sarina, the party has no objection to the governor’s planned defection and is optimistic about the political advantage it would bring.
“All arrangements have been concluded. We are only waiting for the Presidency to fix a date,” he said.
Sarina added that the APC’s primary objective remains electoral success, stressing that any development that strengthens the party is welcome.
Commenting on Kwankwaso’s position, he said the APC would not compel him to join the party, adding that while he would be welcomed if he chose to defect, the party would not tolerate internal crises.
With the APC in control at the federal level, Sarina said Kwankwaso would have limited capacity to destabilise the political environment in Kano State.
