Twenty-one members of the Kano State House of Assembly have officially defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), deepening the wave of political realignments currently reshaping the state’s political landscape.
The lawmakers announced their defection on Monday, marking one of the most significant shifts within the Assembly since the 2023 general elections. Their move comes amid growing internal crises within the NNPP and follows the defection of hundreds of party members across Kano.
The development also comes on the heels of the resignation of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the NNPP. The governor cited prolonged internal disputes, leadership tussles, and legal battles as reasons for his decision, noting that the challenges had weakened the party’s structure not just in Kano but across the country. Yusuf is expected to formally join the APC later on Monday.
Earlier reports indicated that about 774 members of the NNPP had defected to the APC in Rimin Gado Local Government Area, a move that signalled growing dissatisfaction within the party’s grassroots base.
Among the lawmakers who defected are key leaders of the Kano State Assembly, including the Speaker, Jibril Ismail Falgore, who represents Rogo Constituency, and the Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Bello Butu Butu of Tofa/Rimin Gado. Also included are the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussain (Dala), and the Deputy Majority Leader, Garba Shehu Fammar (Kibiya).
Other principal officers who crossed over to the APC include the Chief Whip, Muddasir Ibrahim Zawachiki (Kumbotso), and the Majority Whip, Zakariyya Abdullahi Nuhu (Gabasawa), further weakening the NNPP’s hold on the Assembly.
Additional lawmakers who joined the APC are Lawal Tini (Ajingi), Musa Tahir Haruna (Albasu), Ali Lawan Alhassan (Bagwai/Shanono), Ali Muhammad Tiga (Bebeji), Hafiz Gambo (Bunkure), Rabiu Shuaibu (Dawakin Kudu), Tukur Mohammed (Fagge), and Murtala Muhammad Kadage (Garko).
Also on the list are Abdulmajid Isah Umar (Gwale), Engr. Ahmad Ibrahim (Karaye), Alhassan Zakari (Kura/Garun Malam), Suleiman Mukhtar Ishaq (Madobi), Abdulhamid Abdul (Minjibir), Muhammad Ibrahim (Rano), Kabiru Sule Dahiru (Tarauni), and Ali Abdullahi Manager (Wudil).
Political observers say the mass defection could significantly alter the balance of power in the Kano State Assembly, strengthening the APC’s position ahead of the 2027 general elections. With Governor Yusuf also set to join the ruling party, analysts believe the APC is positioning itself for total control of the state’s political machinery.
As defections continue to ripple through Kano’s political space, attention is now focused on how the NNPP will respond to the loss of key figures and whether further exits are imminent.
