After weeks of intense political speculation and closed-door negotiations, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has officially resigned his membership of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), a move that signals a major shift in the state’s political landscape and sets the stage for his likely defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by his spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf addressed a resignation letter to the Chairman of the Diso-Chiranchi Ward of the NNPP in Gwale Local Government Area, formally withdrawing from the party with immediate effect.
According to the letter, Yusuf expressed deep gratitude to the NNPP for the platform it provided him since 2022 and thanked party leaders and members across Kano State for their support and cooperation.
However, he noted that persistent internal disputes, leadership crises, and ongoing legal battles within the party — many being litigated in courts nationwide — had weakened cohesion, widened divisions, and created uncertainty at both state and national levels.
“After careful reflection, and without prejudice to the party’s capacity to resolve its internal challenges, I have come to the conclusion that my resignation is in the best interest of the people of Kano State,” the governor said, adding that the decision was taken in good faith, without bitterness, and reaffirming his commitment to peace, unity, and development.
Governor Yusuf’s departure has triggered a mass exodus of party members in the state:
• 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly
• 8 members of the House of Representatives
• 44 Local Government Chairmen
have all resigned their NNPP membership alongside the governor, signifying a political realignment in Kano ahead of future elections.
The NNPP Secretary of the Diso-Chiranchi Ward, Hon. Kabiru Zubairu, acknowledged receipt of Yusuf’s resignation letter and praised the governor’s performance in office, highlighting achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment.
Although Governor Yusuf has yet to publicly announce his next political affiliation, widespread reports indicate that his resignation comes on the heels of a recent closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja, fuelling expectations that he will join the APC.
Yusuf’s move could alter the balance of power in northern Nigeria and strengthen the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections, as Kano is one of the country’s most populous and politically strategic states.
