Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, has said that Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), also defected to the All-Progressives Congress (APC), state government sources reported.
Waiya spoke amid ongoing debate over Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s own defection from the NNPP to the APC.
Waiya made the remarks in an interview addressing criticisms that Governor Yusuf’s switch to the APC amounted to political betrayal. He said the political environment within the NNPP had been unstable, leading to multiple defections by key figures.
Waiya said the NNPP had experienced serious internal conflict, including disputes over party symbols and legal recognition, which made continued political engagement within the party uncertain. He described the movement of both Governor Yusuf and Kwankwaso to the APC as an inevitable outcome of that crisis.
The commissioner also referenced past defections, noting that other NNPP leaders had already left for other parties, underscoring what he described as a lack of viable future for the NNPP as it stood.
Details about Kwankwaso’s alleged formal registration with the APC were not provided, and no official statement from Kwankwaso or his spokesperson was reported at the time of publication.
Kano political observers have contested claims of Kwankwaso’s defection, noting that the former governor had publicly maintained his loyalty to the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya movement in recent interviews and statements.
The political realignment in Kano follows Governor Yusuf’s formal resignation from the NNPP and his entry into the APC in late January 2026, a shift that drew sharp criticism from Kwankwaso and supporters of the Kwankwasiyya movement, who described it as a betrayal of the party’s grassroots base.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso had previously acknowledged the defection of some supporters to the APC, saying he endorsed their decision amid pressure and political tension, even while he maintained commitment to the NNPP.
The contrasting accounts over Kwankwaso’s political alignment reflect deeper divisions within the NNPP and ongoing contestation over loyalty and leadership in Kano’s political landscape.
The governor’s realignment with the APC and the claims about Kwankwaso’s own defection could influence party dynamics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kano State’s Information Commissioner has stated that former governor and NNPP leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has also defected to the APC alongside Governor Abba Yusuf amid internal party strife.
However, independent reports and recent interviews suggest that Kwankwaso has publicly denied leaving the NNPP and continues to affirm his association with the party, highlighting contrasting political narratives within the state.
