The New Nigeria Peoples Party is scrambling to contain a brewing crisis in Kano as speculation grows that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may defect to the All Progressives Congress, a move firmly rejected by the party’s leadership and its national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
The rumoured defection has sharpened divisions inside the NNPP between Yusuf’s supporters and die‑hard members of the Kwankwasiyya movement.
In a statement issued on behalf of both the Kano chapter and the national leadership, the state chairman, Hon. Hashim Suleiman Dungurawa, said the party is fully aware of the manoeuvres and does not sanction any shift to the APC.
“We are aware of the developments happening here in Kano State concerning some individuals who intend to defect to the APC,” Dungurawa said.
“I want to make it clear that the Kano State party, the national party, and our national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, together with other leaders, do not approve of what is happening.”
He explained that party elders had tried repeatedly to persuade those involved to reconsider.
“We did everything within our power to persuade them to be patient and not defect to the APC, because of our responsibility to them and our responsibility to the people of Kano,” he stated.
Dungurawa issued a fresh appeal, directed implicitly at Yusuf and his allies.
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“On behalf of all of us collectively, we once again appeal to them, for the sake of Allah and the Prophet, not to leave this party and not to defect to the party that we have opposed and which the masses and other voters have rejected,” he said.
He also dismissed claims that NNPP officials are trying to drive a wedge between the governor and Kwankwaso.
“We have never put anyone against our leader, and if anyone has evidence, let them present it,” he said.
Calling for calm, he urged Kano residents to go about their normal activities and warned party members not to sign any documents allegedly being circulated by “mischief makers.”
When contacted, the Director‑General, Media and Publicity at Kano Government House, Sanusi Bature, admitted there were internal disagreements but declined to comment on the defection rumours.
“Yes, there are issues within the party, and we are aware of the disagreements,” Bature said. “However, I cannot speak on any matter relating to defection at this time.”
He said the party leadership was handling the issue internally and advised the public to avoid speculation.
Dungurawa rounded off by urging people in Kano and across Nigeria to continue backing the NNPP and Senator Kwankwaso “ahead of future political engagements,” as the state’s political alignments for the next election cycle begin to shift.