By Ayo Kehinde
Political tension is mounting in Kano State following allegations by the national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, that public office holders are being coerced to endorse a plan by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Kwankwaso made the allegation in a video message shared on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, claiming that members of the Kano State House of Assembly, local government chairmen, and other political appointees were being compelled to choose between the Kwankwasiyya movement and the “Gandujiyya” (APC) faction.
He stated that the pressure has become so intense that several officials have reportedly been hospitalized due to emotional strain.
“Since this crisis started, several chairmen, councillors, and state lawmakers have spoken to me about their predicament,” Kwankwaso said.
He disclosed that after consultations, he advised those being arm-twisted to temporarily comply by signing any required documents to avoid victimization and ease their personal distress.
The rift follows a week of intense speculation regarding Governor Yusuf’s political future. Security has been tightened around the Kano Government House, and reports indicate that NNPP flags were recently removed and replaced with the Nigerian national flag.
While some cabinet members have suggested the defection to the APC is a “done deal” intended to improve development ties with the federal government, the NNPP national leadership has characterized the move as a “cold betrayal” of the mandate given by the people of Kano.
Despite the current friction, Kwankwaso maintained that the political contest for 2027 remains wide open, expressing confidence in the resilience of his grassroots supporters.
He also briefly commended Governor Yusuf for recently acknowledging the achievements of the previous NNPP-led administration while exposing projects abandoned by the immediate past government.
Governor Yusuf has yet to make a formal public declaration regarding his defection, though he is expected to brief President Bola Tinubu in the coming days.
Meanwhile, high-ranking loyalists of Kwankwaso, including the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Mustapha Rabiu (Kwankwaso’s son), are reportedly preparing to vacate their offices ahead of an imminent cabinet reshuffle
