KWANKWASIYYA MOVEMENT TEETERS AS KANO GOVERNOR YUSUF PLANS APC SWITCH
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–THE planned defection of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown the Kwankwasiyya Movement into turmoil.
KEY ISSUES:
– Irreversible Decision: Governor Yusuf’s decision to defect is “irreversible”, even if it leads to a complete rupture with Kwankwaso, the movement’s founder.
– Internal Crises: The decision is driven by internal crises within the NNPP, which could jeopardise Yusuf’s chances of securing a second term.
– Power Struggle: Kwankwaso’s inner circle has decided Yusuf will not get the ticket, planning to give the deputy governor the chance.
– Legacy Concerns: Resistance to Yusuf’s re-election stems from fears that his growing profile could eclipse Kwankwaso’s legacy.
– Split in Movement: The Kwankwasiyya Movement has split into two camps, with Governor Yusuf, 13 Reps members, 23 commissioners, and 44 local government chairmen on one side, and Kwankwaso’s loyalists on the other.
– No Reconciliation: Reconciliation seems unlikely, with sources saying “those who should mediate have taken sides”.
QUOTES:
– “The major reason is that the NNPP is no longer a viable platform because of the numerous litigations against it.” – Senior aide to Governor Yusuf
– “Kwankwaso does not want this governor back. He wants a new one. If APC gives him the opportunity to replace the current governor, he will accept.” – Senior aide to Governor Yusuf
– “They don’t want him to outshine Kwankwaso. His work is visible, and they don’t want him to continue.” – Senior aide to Governor Yusuf
– “No date has been set. Any date you hear is speculation. But generally, it will happen.” – Senior aide to Governor Yusuf
– “Throughout our discussion, we never talked about Kwankwaso.” – Rt Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, former Speaker of Kano State House of Assembly
– “He felt slighted that negotiations continued without him. He wanted all discussions to go through him as leader, not the governor.” – Source close to Kwankwaso
– “What does the governor want? A guaranteed second term. But Kwankwaso wanted control of party structures, national appointments and influence over Kano and the North-West. That was too much.” – Insider
Analysts weigh implications
Kano-based analyst Dr Kabiru Sa’idu Sufi said Yusuf’s defection would dramatically alter political calculations.
“The governor’s incumbency carries weight, but it will also generate discontent,” he said, warning that the NNPP would be significantly weakened and the Kwankwasiyya Movement split.
He added that while APC is banking on governors ahead of 2027, incumbency alone does not guarantee victory.
This is not the first time Yusuf has been linked to APC. Since the Supreme Court ruling affirming his victory, he has reportedly encouraged Kwankwaso to join the ruling party. Last year’s slogan, “Abba Tsaya da Kafarka” (Abba, stand on your feet), reflected growing calls for independence, though Yusuf publicly reaffirmed loyalty to Kwankwaso at the time.
As Nigeria’s most populous state, Kano remains central to national politics. Yusuf’s defection could strengthen APC’s electoral calculus but deepen internal rivalries. For NNPP, losing its only governor could reduce the party to a personal platform. For Kwankwasiyya, the move tests whether the movement can endure without power.
SOURCE ==DAILY TRUST EXCEPT THE HEADLINE AND INTRO PLUS A FEW PARAGRAPHS
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