The Kano State political scene witnessed a dramatic shift on Monday, January 26, as 22 members of the State House of Assembly formally defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defections followed Governor Abba Yusuf’s official resignation from the NNPP, shortly after his meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
Yusuf, in a letter to the chairman of the Diso–Chiranchi Ward in Gwale Local Government Area, cited “deepening internal crises” and “prolonged leadership disputes” within the party as reasons for his departure.
The mass defection also included eight members of the House of Representatives and all 44 local government chairmen in Kano State, signalling a major political realignment in the region.
Prominent Assembly figures among the defectors include Speaker Jibril Falgore (Rogo), Deputy Speaker Muhammad Bello Butu Butu (Tofa/Rimin Gado), Majority Leader Lawan Hussain (Dala), Deputy Majority Leader Garba Shehu Fammar (Kibiya), and Chief Whip Muddasir Ibrahim Zawachiki (Kumbotso).
READ ALSO: Kano Gov To Formally Rejoin APC Monday After NNPP Exit
A video of the plenary, shared on X by @Imranmuhdz, showed Speaker Falgore calling on each lawmaker to publicly announce their defection.
Rep. Rabiu Shuaibu (Dawakin Kudu) said, “I, Shuaibu Rabiu, representing Dawakin Kudu, resign my membership of the NNPP to the APC with immediate effect from today (Monday).”
Another lawmaker, Tukur Mohammed (Fagge), added, “Mr Speaker, I am here to confirm I am resigning my membership of the NNPP and joining the APC.”
Other lawmakers who crossed over include Zakariyya Abdullahi Nuhu (Gabasawa), Lawal Tini (Ajingi), Musa Tahir Haruna (Albasu), Ali Lawan Alhassan (Bagwai/Shanono), and Hafiz Gambo (Bunkure), among others.
As of press time, NNPP national leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, is yet to respond to the lawmakers defection, however in an earlier statement, he described Gov Yusuf’s defection as ‘betrayal’ and had earlier declared January 23 “World Betrayal Day.”
Kwankwaso had been instrumental in Governor Yusuf’s rise to power in the 2023 elections through the Kwankwasiyya political movement.