Kwankwaso vows to stop Gov Yusuf’s re-election after APC move

Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has said that Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, will not win re-election in 2027.

Kwankwaso made this statement during an interview with BBC Hausa after Governor Yusuf defected from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The defection has caused strong reactions within Kano State’s political space, especially among NNPP supporters.

According to Kwankwaso, the governor lost the trust and support of the people the moment former APC National Chairman and ex-Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, openly showed support for him.

Kwankwaso said Ganduje’s public gesture of raising Yusuf’s hand was a clear sign that the governor had aligned himself fully with the APC.

Kwankwaso described Yusuf’s decision to leave the NNPP as a serious betrayal. He said the party worked hard to support Yusuf’s rise to power and did not expect him to abandon the party after benefiting from its support.

He warned that Governor Yusuf would regret his decision, insisting that joining the ruling party would not guarantee electoral success.

Kwankwaso added that if Yusuf later claims he was not allowed to govern freely or was frustrated by political forces, the NNPP would respond and defend its position.

Kwankwaso’s comments have further deepened political divisions in Kano State as preparations for the 2027 general elections gradually begin.

The situation has also sparked debates among residents and political observers about party loyalty, power struggles, and the future of governance in the state.