The leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement and former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the Kano State Government of coercing state officials and elected local government chairmen into signing documents indicating their defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso made the allegation in a post on his verified social media platforms, describing the reports reaching him as “deeply disturbing.” He claimed that affected officials were being compelled to sign documents aligning them either with the Gandujiyya or Kwankwasiyya political camps.
“I have received several reports—some good and some very terrible—indicating that the Kano State Government is compelling state officials and elected local government chairmen to sign documents either in support of Gandujiyya or Kwankwasiyya,” he stated.
Kwankwaso warned that such actions could undermine democratic principles and described the development as unfortunate.
“Our supporters should not take this lightly. It is very disturbing that a government would go so low,” he said.
Despite his criticism, the former governor advised affected local government chairmen and councillors to comply if necessary in order to avoid victimisation.
“Since it has reached this level, those being forced to sign the document may go ahead and do so in order not to be victimised by the government,” he added.
Kwankwaso also expressed appreciation to members of the Kwankwasiyya Movement for what he described as their steadfastness and loyalty.
In response, the Kano State Government dismissed the allegation, insisting that participation in any defection process was entirely voluntary.
Reacting to the claims, the state Commissioner for Information, Ibrahim Waiya, told The PUNCH that no official was being compelled to defect.
“What exactly happened is that our party is asking everybody not only government officials—who are willingly ready to join the APC to do so. But nobody is being compelled, contrary to what has been reported,” Waiya said.
The allegation comes amid persistent speculation that Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, may defect from the NNPP to the APC ahead of the next general elections.
Yusuf, who was elected in 2023 on the NNPP platform, is widely regarded as a political protégé of Kwankwaso, and the defection rumours are believed to have strained relations between the two men.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has reaffirmed his loyalty to Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Sources told The PUNCH that Gwarzo, who returned from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday night after performing the lesser Hajj, visited Kwankwaso at his Miller Road residence in Kano shortly after his arrival.
“One of the key reasons for the visit was to personally reaffirm the deputy governor’s loyalty and commitment to the party and its ideology,” a party source said.
Other senior party figures, including the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Yusuf Kofar Mata; the Special Adviser on Political Affairs to the Governor, Sunusi Surajo Kwankwaso; and the factional NNPP chairman in Kano State, Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa, were also said to have pledged their support for Kwankwaso.
A senior NNPP official described the development as a clear signal of continued allegiance to the former governor.
“This is a clear message that key figures within the government and the party remain firmly with Kwankwaso despite the ongoing defection speculation,” the official said.
