Kwankwaso Rejects Claims He Endorsed Gov Yusuf’s APC Defection

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has denied reports that he endorsed the alleged planned defection of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The clarification comes amid intensifying political speculation in Kano State over the governor’s political future and possible party realignment.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Kwankwaso’s media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, described recent reports claiming the former governor had reversed his stance as false, misleading and without factual basis. The statement insisted that Kwankwaso remains committed to the ideals and principles of the NNPP, where Governor Yusuf was initially elected.

“We wish to state unequivocally that this report is false, misleading and entirely without factual basis,” the statement read, adding that at no point did Kwankwaso endorse, support or express approval for the governor’s purported move to join the APC.

The clarification was issued after conflicting media reports on Tuesday night suggested Kwankwaso had changed his earlier position and backed Yusuf’s possible switch to the APC. Those reports had stirred confusion in political circles, given Kwankwaso’s longstanding opposition to defections from the NNPP.

Kwankwaso’s leadership has been a defining factor in Kano’s politics, especially since the NNPP’s rise as a significant opposition force in the region. His influence extends through the Kwankwasiyya movement — a political network with strong grassroots support in northern Nigeria — and his previous roles as governor and presidential candidate.

The statement also reaffirmed Governor Yusuf’s status as an NNPP member, emphasising his obligation to uphold the mandate freely given to him by Kano voters. Party loyalists and Kwankwaso’s aides urged the public, media and political stakeholders to rely on verified information rather than unsubstantiated claims circulating online.

In the same communication, the NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed related narratives as “a blatant falsehood” and characterised attempts to link Kwankwaso with the alleged defection as deliberate misinformation. Johnson also challenged those seeking to defect to make their intentions known openly, instead of misrepresenting the party leader’s position.

Political tension has grown in Kano over recent weeks amid rumours that Governor Yusuf and some allies may decamp to the APC. A planned departure date, initially set for earlier in January, was reportedly shifted, highlighting uncertainty about the timing and scope of any defection.

The clarification from Kwankwaso and the NNPP comes as the party navigates internal pressures and public speculation, with some members reportedly under duress amid the ongoing political turmoil. The leadership has also faced accusations that officials and appointees were being pressured to endorse or sign documents linked to a prospective APC alignment — an allegation Kwankwaso has acknowledged separately as part of the broader tensions.

Amid these developments, Kwankwaso’s denial is likely aimed at quelling confusion and reinforcing loyalty among party supporters, particularly ahead of the 2027 general elections. By dismissing claims of endorsement, he is reiterating the NNPP’s commitment to its principles and urging a clear separation between individual political moves and the leadership’s official stance.

The governor has not yet publicly confirmed any formal defection, and attention now turns to how the evolving situation will shape Kano State’s political alignment in the run-up to the next national elections.