Governor Yusuf: Embracing APC and the Challenges Ahead

By Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano

It is no longer news that Kano State Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, has made what many consider his strongest political decision yet—abandoning his embattled political benefactor, Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, in a bid to secure a brighter political future for his followers and the people of Kano State.

Although many individuals close to Governor Yusuf insist that his decision to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a tough one, the governor has maintained that his action was guided solely by his desire to ensure the best for the people of Kano.

Senator Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s 2023 presidential candidate, is widely regarded as the National Leader of the party and the Grand Commander of the Kwankwassiyya Political Movement—a platform many believe played a crucial role in Governor Yusuf’s emergence as Kano’s number-one citizen in 2023. Kwankwaso and his ardent followers have not hidden their displeasure over Governor Yusuf’s “surprising” decision to abandon the NNPP and the Kwankwassiyya Political Movement.

Senator Kwankwaso personally described Governor Yusuf’s latest political romance with the APC and major political opponents of the Kwankwassiyya Political Movement as “betrayal,” insisting that nobody who betrays his political bloc ever “succeeds.” However, for Governor Yusuf and his followers, the mass exodus from the NNPP to the APC represents a major response to what they describe as a wake-up call for political liberation in Kano State.

As it stands, the dust raised by Governor Yusuf’s defection has created unprecedented political alignment and realignment across major political blocs in Kano. A top associate of Senator Kwankwaso, who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity, insisted that the former Defence Minister is not weighed down by unfolding events, even as pundits believe that Governor Yusuf’s action has significantly deflated Kwankwaso’s image as the only man who wears the “iron shoe” of Kano politics.

According to him:
“What we are experiencing in Kano today is not new, going by the antecedents of ungrateful Nigerian politicians. Yes, we believe that the governor’s latest moves are clear signs of betrayal and selfishness, but at the end of the day, they will have only themselves to blame. Everybody knows that Kano is Kwankwassiyya. I must also remind you that most of those who pretend to be leaving with Governor Yusuf are 100 per cent Kwankwassiyya, come rain or sunshine. They are working for our leader, Senator Kwankwaso, whose political feathers never wane. He is a grassroots mobiliser who is loved and cherished by all. He has touched the lives of both the rich and the poor positively, and they will never abandon him, even though the governor and his cohorts seem to have done so.”

Indeed, the unfolding political developments in Kano constitute a litmus test of Governor Yusuf’s political and leadership sagacity, as he is confronted with the onerous task of carrying people of diverse political orientations along.

Apart from steadily maintaining his influence over those who cross-carpeted with him from the NNPP/Kwankwassiyya Political Movement, Governor Yusuf must also be ready to contend with political blocs within the APC—particularly those loyal to the immediate past APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the loyalists of the Deputy President of the Senate, Dr. Barau I. Jibrin.

A loyalist of Dr. Jibrin, who did not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent that Governor Yusuf may be mistaken if he believes that his entry into the APC automatically guarantees him a second-term ticket. According to him, Senator Barau Jibrin has not abandoned his 2027 governorship ambition.

He said:
“The Deputy President of the Senate has not told anyone that he is no longer contesting the Kano governorship in 2027. He is still nursing that ambition. So, Governor Yusuf’s defection to the APC has not killed that dream. We welcome the governor with open arms, but we are not guaranteeing him an automatic ticket. He is coming to join us as a loyal party man who must never allow his personal interest to override the overall interest of the party.”

Our correspondent also gathered that the former Deputy Governor of the state, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna—who was the APC’s governorship flag bearer in the 2023 election—is equally keeping alive his ambition to govern Kano in 2027. Governor Yusuf defeated Gawuna in the 2023 governorship election. For now, Gawuna belongs to the political bloc of Ganduje, popularly known as the Gandujiyya Political Movement. Loyalists of this bloc insist that Ganduje, the immediate past APC National Chairman, remains the leader of the party in Kano, even with Governor Yusuf’s entrance.

Be that as it may, pundits believe that the challenges before Governor Yusuf as he joins the progressives are enormous. He is expected to carry all blocs within the APC along if he is determined to succeed. He must also ensure the continued loyalty of those who came with him from the Kwankwassiyya Political Movement. Above all, he is expected to be discerning enough to separate loyalty from sycophancy, deception, and backstabbing.

Meanwhile, all is set for the formal reception of Governor Yusuf into the APC, as the former National Chairman of the party, Dr. Ganduje, has returned to the country after spending several weeks on vacation in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

A statement by Malam Muhammad Garba, Chief of Staff to the former APC National Chairman, said Dr. Ganduje arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Saturday at about 4:30 p.m. aboard an Emirates Airline flight, after which he would proceed to Abuja. Following his return, the former APC National Chairman is expected to commence a series of consultations and stakeholders’ meetings focusing on recent political developments in Kano State.

According to the statement, these engagements are aimed at “reviewing the evolving political landscape and consulting widely with party leaders and critical stakeholders.” Garba added that Dr. Ganduje is also expected to participate in the ongoing APC nationwide electronic membership registration (e-registration) exercise.

“The initiative, which he pioneered during his tenure as National Chairman, was designed to modernise the party’s membership database, enhance internal planning, and ensure that APC membership records are comprehensive, credible, and easily accessible. The former governor remains committed to strengthening party structures and promoting inclusive dialogue in support of democratic consolidation within the APC, particularly in Kano State,” the statement added.