Security has been significantly reinforced at the Kano State Government House amid growing speculation that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may be planning to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
NEW DAILY PRIME reports that heightened security was observed on Monday at the main entrance and surrounding areas of the Government House, with combined teams of security personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) deployed at strategic points. Access to the premises was subject to rigorous checks, including strict identification procedures, as operatives monitored movements in and out of the complex.
The security build-up is believed to be linked to escalating political tension within the NNPP, particularly amid reports of a rift between Governor Yusuf and his long-time political mentor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Kwankwaso, a former Kano State governor and national leader of the NNPP, is said to be strongly opposed to any plan by Yusuf to defect to the APC.
Sources within the party claim that Kwankwaso has warned that such a move would not only weaken the NNPP in Kano State but also threaten the stability of the broader Kwankwasiyya Movement, which has remained a dominant political force in the state for years. The reported disagreement has exposed cracks in what was previously seen as a solid political alliance between the two leaders.
The crisis has now spilt into the party’s structure, prompting an official response from the NNPP leadership in Kano State and at the national level. In a press statement, the party distanced itself from any plans to defect and reiterated its loyalty to the NNPP platform.
“We are aware of the developments happening here in Kano State concerning some individuals who intend to defect to the APC,” the statement read. “I want to make it clear that the Kano State party, the national party, and our national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, together with other leaders, do not approve of what is happening.”
The statement was signed by the NNPP Kano State Chairman, Hashim Dungurawa, who stressed that the party leadership remained united in its opposition to any move that could undermine its structure or electoral mandate.
As of the time of reporting, Governor Yusuf has not publicly addressed the defection rumours or commented on the alleged disagreement with Kwankwaso. However, the visible security presence and the firm stance taken by the NNPP leadership have fuelled further speculation about an unfolding political showdown in the state.
Observers say the situation could have significant implications for Kano’s political landscape, given the state’s strategic importance and the influence wielded by both the NNPP and the APC at the national level.
