The internal crisis rocking the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State has taken a dramatic turn as the Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, openly aligned himself with the political camp of the party’s national leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, amid growing tension over Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s reported plan to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Gwarzo, who was in Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj when the crisis broke out, has since returned and is now playing a visible role in high‑level meetings at Kwankwaso’s residence in Kano. Party sources said loyalists are increasingly rallying around the Kwankwaso political structure, signalling strong support for the deputy governor and raising speculation that he may be backed to contest the governorship.
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Political sources close to the Kano State Government disclosed that Governor Yusuf is determined to block Gwarzo from emerging as the NNPP governorship candidate. According to the sources, loyalists of the governor are already exploring impeachment options against the deputy governor, citing the governor’s strong influence over the Kano State House of Assembly.
The Speaker of the House, Jibrin Falgore, has repeatedly declared the Assembly’s support for Governor Yusuf. The House has 38 members — 24 from the NNPP and 14 from the APC, excluding two deceased NNPP lawmakers — giving the governor a clear advantage and placing the deputy governor in a vulnerable position.
At the centre of the turmoil is Governor Yusuf’s reported consideration of defecting to the APC, a move that has sharply divided the party into two camps: the Yusuf camp and the Kwankwaso camp.
The governor’s camp is said to enjoy the backing of the Speaker, a majority of lawmakers, commissioners, members of the State Executive Council, local government chairmen under ALGON, councillors, some members of the House of Representatives and several political appointees.
The Kwankwaso camp, however, has strongly rejected the defection plan. Kwankwaso described the move as a betrayal of the party’s supporters and the masses who voted the NNPP into power in 2023.
“Nothing is as painful as handing over our hard‑earned mandate to our political rivals,” Kwankwaso said. “If they insist, life will go on.”
Despite his opposition, Kwankwaso noted that he has not completely ruled out joining the APC in the future, stressing that any such decision must be guided by clear agreements that protect his supporters and Kano’s political interests
“I will not go to the APC blindly,” he said. “I must know my role, the direction of the journey and the fate of our plans for the common people.”
The Kwankwaso‑backed NNPP Chairman in Kano State, Hashimu Dungurawa, confirmed that the party did not approve Governor Yusuf’s alleged defection plan, warning that it would amount to a betrayal of the electorate.
Meanwhile, a leadership tussle has further complicated the crisis. Ward executives in Gargari Ward, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, announced Dungurawa’s expulsion, but the NNPP National Working Committee nullified the action. A Kano State High Court later restrained Dungurawa from parading himself as chairman pending the determination of the suit.
Political analysts say the crisis gives the APC a strategic advantage ahead of the 2027 elections, though Governor Yusuf may face stiff competition from established APC heavyweights, including Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in 2023, and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who already control the party structure in the state.
A senior NNPP member who spoke anonymously advised the governor to tread carefully and not underestimate Kwankwaso’s enduring influence in Kano politics, warning that defecting without control of party structures could leave him politically exposed.
As the crisis deepens, the future of the NNPP in Kano, and the political direction of its only serving governor — remains uncertain.
