Political Earthquake in Kano: 22 Lawmakers Follow Governor Yusuf, Dump NNPP for APC

Nigeria’s political landscape shifted dramatically this week in Kano State, where twenty-two members of the Kano State House of Assembly have defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) — a move closely tied to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s own resignation from the NNPP and impending return to the ruling party. 

The lawmakers formally announced their departure during a plenary session on Monday, making clear they were aligning with Governor Yusuf’s political trajectory after he cited “deepening internal crises” and prolonged leadership disputes within the NNPP in his resignation letter to party officials. 

This wave of defections isn’t limited to the state legislature. The governor’s decision to quit the NNPP was accompanied by eight federal lawmakers from Kano and all 44 local government chairmen in the state, creating what many observers are calling a political realignment of seismic proportions. 

The list of legislators who left the NNPP features key leadership figures of the state House of Assembly, including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, and Chief Whip, along with a broad cross-section of representatives from constituencies across the state. 

With the defections, the APC is poised to hold a commanding majority in Kano’s 40-member assembly — a development that will significantly reshape political control at the state level. Reports from other outlets suggest the APC could now have up to 36 seats in the house following the mass resignation. 

What This Means for Kano and National Politics

The defections reflect more than personal loyalty: they reveal the fragility of party cohesion when internal party struggles intersect with individual political ambitions. Governor Yusuf’s split from the NNPP — a party that only recently produced his 2023 electoral success alongside the Kwankwasiyya political movement — has not only damaged the NNPP’s organisational strength in Kano but also signalled its vulnerability as a major opposition force in northern Nigeria. 

The move also bolsters the APC’s foothold in a state traditionally known for its fierce political competition and vibrant grassroots mobilisation. With Kano being one of Nigeria’s most populous and politically significant states, realignment here could have ripple effects on voting patterns and party strategies as Nigeria moves toward the 2027 general elections.

Opposition parties and civil society voices have condemned the defections as opportunistic and destabilising, arguing that such mass movements undermine ideological commitments and reduce party competition. The NNPP, in particular, has framed the defections as a “gross betrayal” of its mandate and values, though internal party disputes had long been simmering before the governor’s exit. 

What’s Next?

Governor Yusuf is expected to formally rejoin the APC on Monday, with party flags already hoisted at the Kano Government House — a clear sign of the incoming political permanence. 

For the APC, the defections represent both a strategic victory and a new set of governance expectations from constituents. For the NNPP, the episode serves as a stark reminder of how internal unity — or lack thereof — can determine a party’s fortunes. And for Nigerian democracy, it underscores once again how fluid party alignments continue to be in the country’s evolving multiparty landscape.