From Alliance to Fallout: How Internal Power Struggles Are Driving Gov. Abba Yusuf Away from Kwankwaso
The political landscape of Kano State is poised for a major realignment as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf prepares to formally sever ties with his longtime political benefactor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Fresh information obtained by POLITICS DIGEST indicates that the governor is finalising plans to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on or before January 6, 2026. If the move materialises, it would leave the NNPP without a single sitting governor nationwide—marking a significant setback for the party.
Roots of the Fallout: Alleged Succession Plot
Credible sources say the decision is largely driven by an alleged plot to deny Governor Yusuf the NNPP ticket for a second term in 2027. Insiders claim that a powerful faction within the Kwankwasiyya movement has convinced Senator Kwankwaso to replace Yusuf as the party’s gubernatorial flagbearer.
This group—described by sources as a “Kwankwasiyya cabal”—is said to include the deputy governor, a serving senator, the governor’s political adviser, the state party chairman and a commissioner. Their influence, sources say, has widened the rift between Kano’s two most influential political figures to a point many now consider irreparable.
Corruption Allegations and Growing Tensions
The relationship, which reportedly began to deteriorate in 2024, was further strained by Governor Yusuf’s efforts to confront alleged corruption involving individuals close to Kwankwaso. Investigations by POLITICS DIGEST point to three major controversies that deepened the divide:
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The NOVOMED Procurement Case: This involved the alleged procurement of drugs for the state’s 44 local government areas without the governor’s approval. Although the Kano State Anti-Corruption Commission was directed to investigate, the case—implicating the deputy governor and a nephew of Kwankwaso—has reportedly stalled.
Foreign Scholarship Fund Allegations: More than ₦1 billion was allegedly diverted by a member of the inner political circle. The suspect is said to be under investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and has reportedly begun refunding the funds in instalments.
Local Government Election Nomination Fees: The political adviser and state party chairman are alleged to have diverted hundreds of millions of naira in nomination fees into a private company account linked to the adviser.
A Strategic Defection with Numbers
Governor Yusuf is not expected to defect alone. Sources familiar with the plan say he is set to move with a substantial segment of Kano’s political structure. These reportedly include at least 35 of the 44 local government chairmen, 19 of the 27 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, 10 of the 13 members of the House of Representatives from the state, and 23 of the 30 commissioners.
The Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly is among the senior lawmakers said to have already endorsed the planned defection, ahead of the APC’s congresses scheduled for February.
Leadership Reconfiguration: Rurum Emerges
The anticipated defection is also expected to trigger a reshuffle within the state’s political hierarchy. Party insiders say Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, a former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly and current member of the House of Representatives, is being considered as Governor Yusuf’s preferred deputy under the APC platform.
Rurum, who commands considerable influence in Kano South, is viewed by strategists as a more politically advantageous choice to balance interests within the APC and strengthen Yusuf’s prospects for re-election in 2027.
As political calculations intensify, all eyes remain on Kano, where the unfolding developments could significantly reshape not only the state’s power dynamics but also the broader opposition landscape ahead of the next general elections.
By PRNigeria
