NNPP factional chairman Mas’ud Eljibril demands Kano Governor Abba Yusuf formally resign from NNPP before joining APC ahead of 2027 elections
Mas’ud Eljibril, factional chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has urged Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to formally resign from the party before defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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Speaking at a press conference on January 20, 2026, in Kano, Eljibril presented court rulings affirming his faction as the legally recognised NNPP in Nigeria.
He said Governor Yusuf has the right to leave the party but must follow party rules and officially notify the NNPP of his resignation.
Eljibril stated, “We are still waiting for his formal resignation from our party. To be a member of any political party is an individual decision. If he decides to leave, it has to be according to the rules and regulations of the party.”
Governor Yusuf met with President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa in Abuja on January 19, fueling speculation over his planned move to the APC.
During the meeting, Yusuf reportedly discussed security, infrastructure, and strengthening Kano’s partnership with the federal government.
The governor’s anticipated defection, initially expected in early January, was delayed for further consultations.
His move is seen as a potential game-changer in Kano State politics ahead of the 2027 elections, where party loyalties remain sharply contested.
Since President Tinubu assumed office in 2023, defections from opposition parties, including the PDP, Labour Party, and NNPP, to the APC have increased.
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Critics have accused the APC of consolidating power, a claim denied by the president, who insists defections are voluntary.
