Former presidential candidate and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said that Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, will eventually regret his decision to leave the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso described Yusuf’s defection as shocking, noting that the move took many party members by surprise and was initially difficult for him to comprehend.
Speaking in his first media interview since the governor’s exit from the NNPP, Kwankwaso told the BBC that Yusuf’s departure amounted to handing over the mandate of NNPP supporters and the people of Kano State to a rival political camp without convincing justification.
Governor Yusuf formally defected to the APC on Monday, January 26, 2026, after resigning from the NNPP three days earlier, barely three years after securing the governorship on the party’s platform.
At the defection ceremony, Yusuf said his decision followed consultations with political associates and stakeholders, adding that he aligned with the APC after assessing the prevailing political direction in the country and what he believes would best serve the development needs of Kano State.
However, Kwankwaso insisted that the reasons advanced by the governor were issues that could have been resolved internally through dialogue and cooperation.
He also rejected claims of an internal crisis within the NNPP, describing the party as stable and peaceful, while noting that disagreements are inevitable in any political organisation.
On the future of the Kwankwasiyya movement, kwankwaso said the ideology remains firmly rooted in the NNPP, stressing that those who truly believe in it should remain within the party.
He further criticised the role played by former Kano State Governor and APC national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, during Yusuf’s reception into the APC, arguing that the public show of support did not translate into electoral strength.
Kwankwaso maintained that Governor Yusuf and his political associates would face significant challenges in the APC, adding that even if the governor does not return to the NNPP, he would ultimately regret leaving the party.
The NNPP leader also disclosed that efforts were ongoing to strengthen alliances aimed at repositioning the party and addressing Nigeria’s broader political challenges.
Kwankwaso remains one of the most influential figures in northern Nigerian politics, particularly among young people, and is widely regarded as the driving force behind the Kwankwasiyya movement, known for its loyal supporters and distinctive red caps.
