• Tinubu, Kano gov meet amid defection speculation
• Kwankwaso reassures supporters amid NNPP tensions in Kano
• APC stalwart urges Yusuf to align with Tinubu
• APC youth group warns Tinubu against dropping Shettima ahead of 2027

Kano’s political landscape is tilting towards a major realignment, as defection talks involving Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency intensify, exposing deepening cracks within the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and raising the stakes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Chairman of the Kano State APC chapter, Abdullahi Abbas, expressed confidence yesterday, saying Governor Abba Yusuf may register and collect the party’s membership card between today and tomorrow in the state.

Abbas disclosed this while addressing about 1,500 ad hoc staff engaged by the party to conduct its electronic registration exercise in Kano State.

He said the party decided to delay the commencement of the e-registration exercise until the APC leader in the state, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and the governor arrive in Kano today or tomorrow after meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

The party chairman said the APC was targeting a membership drive that would surpass that of any other state, including Lagos, and urged the ad hoc staff to register anyone who indicated interest in obtaining the party’s membership card without discrimination.

Abbas also said the party had put in place a reward system for local councils and wards that mobilise and record the highest number of new members during the exercise.

“And if the governor defects, those local councils and wards can also be compensated with a commissioner seat or something,” he said. “At the party level, we will also support such local government units that need support or are vying for any position to defeat their opponents because they supported the party. So there are ways we can be rewarded for supporting the party.”

Tinubu, Kano gov meet amid defection speculation
President Bola Tinubu yesterday held a closed-door meeting with Governor Yusuf at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting, which took place in the President’s office, was conducted away from the media, further fuelling political speculation over its purpose and outcome.

Yusuf arrived at the Villa at about 4:10 p.m., dressed in a white agbada and a red cap.

Details of the discussions remained sketchy as of press time.

The meeting came amid sustained speculation over an alleged plan by the Kano governor to defect from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the ruling APC.

Political observers said discussions around the planned defection had been ongoing for weeks but may have hit a snag over disagreements, particularly on whether the governor would be granted an automatic ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The defection speculation has also reportedly deepened political tension within Kano State, triggering strains between supporters of Governor Yusuf and loyalists of his political mentor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Although no official statement was issued by either the Presidency or the Kano State Government, observers believe the meeting with President Tinubu may not be unconnected with the governor’s rumoured political realignment and broader negotiations ahead of 2027.

Kwankwaso reassures supporters amid NNPP tensions in Kano
Meanwhile, former Kano State Governor and national leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has assured supporters that the core ideals of the movement remain intact despite ongoing political tension within the New Nigeria Peoples Party.

Kwankwaso gave the assurance in a statement in which he expressed gratitude to supporters and well-wishers for their loyalty and resilience during what he described as challenging times.

“I extend my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to our vibrant social media family, loyal supporters and all well-wishers who continue to stand firmly by our noble cause,” he said.

He added that supporters’ dedication to the ideals of the Kwankwasiyya movement — service, integrity and people-centred progress — had remained unwavering despite challenges facing the party.

The former governor also reaffirmed his commitment to public service, assuring that decisions taken under the Kwankwasiyya platform would continue to prioritise the welfare of the people, particularly young Nigerians.

“Rest assured, we shall remain steadfast in our duty to serve, making decisions that uplift and benefit our entire people, with special focus and priority on our loyal youth,” he said.

Kwankwaso’s message comes amid heightened political tension within the NNPP in Kano State, following persistent speculation about the possible defection of Governor Yusuf to the APC.

The speculation has reportedly fuelled internal friction within the party, leading to divisions among key stakeholders, with some aligning with the governor and others remaining loyal to Kwankwaso, the party’s national leader.

Reports indicate that figures believed to be aligned with Kwankwaso include the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo; the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Yusuf Kofar Mata; the factional NNPP chairman, Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa; and the Senior Special Assistant on Political Affairs to the governor, Sunusi Surajo Kwankwaso.

The disagreement has also reportedly resulted in both camps opening separate registers for supporters to sign as a demonstration of loyalty amid uncertainty over the party’s future direction in the state.

APC stalwart urges gov Yusuf to align with Tinubu
Following yesterday’s meeting between President Bola Tinubu and Governor Yusuf, a key chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Liadi Tella, urged the governor to take a “bold and strategic step” by defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the ruling party, irrespective of the position of his political mentor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Speaking with The Guardian, Liadi argued that aligning with the APC and President Tinubu would offer Yusuf greater political leverage than remaining tethered to Kwankwaso, whose influence, he said, is diminishing both within Kano State and on the national stage.

“If Governor Yusuf continues to remain under Kwankwaso’s control until 2027, one thing is certain: he will not secure a return ticket under the NNPP,” Liadi warned. “Defecting to the APC would not only be strategic but would also ensure his political independence. He could emerge as the party leader in Kano, free from the constraints of any political godfather.”

Yusuf, a former commissioner under Kwankwaso, rode the Kwankwasiyya movement and the NNPP platform to victory in the fiercely contested 2023 governorship election, ending the APC’s eight-year hold on Kano and reaffirming Kwankwaso’s grassroots appeal.

Since assuming office, however, observers have noted rising tensions between Yusuf and his political base, particularly over appointments, policy direction and party control. These strains have fuelled speculation about a possible realignment, especially as the APC intensifies efforts to reclaim Kano ahead of the 2027 elections.

Liadi maintained that joining the APC would grant the governor greater autonomy, enabling him to administer the state in partnership with the federal government without undue interference. “In the APC, he can govern Kano according to his vision, without constantly looking over his shoulder,” he said.

On Kwankwaso’s political relevance, Liadi asserted that the former minister and two-time Kano governor is gradually losing national significance. “I do not think President Tinubu or the APC needs Kwankwaso to make inroads in Kano in 2027, given the current political dynamics in the state,” he said.

The remarks come amid nationwide political realignments, as the APC courts opposition governors and key power brokers to consolidate its influence ahead of the 2027 polls, while smaller parties, including the NNPP, continue to struggle with internal cohesion and leadership disputes.

APC youth group warns Tinubu against dropping Shettima ahead of 2027
In a related development, a youth group, the APC Youth Parliament, cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu against any move to replace Vice President Kashim Shettima ahead of the 2027 presidential election, warning that such a decision could significantly weaken the ruling party’s support base in the North-East.

The group described as dangerous and divisive the growing rumours suggesting that President Tinubu may consider a new running mate, allegedly to address criticisms surrounding the Muslim–Muslim ticket adopted during the 2023 general elections.

Speaking to journalists in Bauchi yesterday, the Chairman of the APC Youth Parliament, Kabiru Garba Kobi, dismissed the reports as baseless speculation aimed at sowing discord within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and undermining both President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima.

Kobi said those promoting the rumours were driven by personal ambitions and external political interests rather than concern for the unity and stability of the party.

“Any attempt to replace Senator Kashim Shettima would amount to a grave political miscalculation that could cost President Tinubu massive support in the North, especially the North-East,” he warned.

He noted that recent political discussions had linked several prominent figures to the speculation, including former Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, Minister of Defence Lt.-Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah. Kobi, however, described such narratives as distractions promoted by political opportunists.

While acknowledging that the 1999 Constitution empowers the President to freely choose a running mate, Kobi stressed that loyalty, political wisdom and electoral realities must take precedence.

“Senator Kashim Shettima has clearly demonstrated all that is required of a deputy — loyalty, commitment, courage, experience and strong grassroots support,” he said.

According to him, Shettima remains the most unifying political figure in the North-East and serves as a vital bridge between the region and other parts of the country.

“Shettima is the leader who can mobilise the North and deliver the votes President Tinubu will need in 2027. Many of those calling for his replacement neither contributed to the APC’s victory in 2023 nor supported Tinubu’s candidacy,” Kobi added.

He urged President Tinubu to ignore voices he described as disloyal and disconnected from the party’s struggles and successes, insisting that retaining Shettima remains the safest electoral path for the APC ahead of 2027.