Yusuf APC defection speculation deepens as Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf comments for the first time on reports of a planned move to the ruling party
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has publicly addressed for the first time reports that he is planning to defect from the New Nigeria People’s Party to the All Progressives Congress, saying he prefers action over political talk amid growing controversy over his alleged move.
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Abba Kabir Yusuf made the comments in a video circulating on social media in which the Kano State governor was seen speaking informally to a group of people about the speculation surrounding his political future.
Abba Kabir Yusuf said he had deliberately avoided public comment as the controversy intensified.
Abba Kabir Yusuf said he did not believe in speaking excessively and preferred to be judged by his actions rather than political statements.
The Kano State Government has not confirmed the date or setting of the video, but the remarks were widely interpreted as referring to reports that Abba Kabir Yusuf plans to defect to the ruling party on 12 January.
The Yusuf APC defection speculation has dominated political discourse in Kano in recent days, dividing opinion across the state.
Supporters of the governor within and outside Kano have argued that aligning with the ruling party could strengthen Kano State’s access to federal influence and resources.
Critics within the New Nigeria People’s Party, however, have described the potential move as a betrayal of the political mandate given to Abba Kabir Yusuf by voters and by his political mentor, former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the Kwankwasiyya political movement, has not publicly commented on the development, but senior figures aligned with the group have expressed unease over the direction of events.
The controversy reflects broader political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, as politicians across Nigeria reposition themselves within the country’s shifting power landscape.
For now, Abba Kabir Yusuf has neither confirmed nor denied the planned defection, leaving both allies and opponents waiting for a decisive move.
Also read: NNPP urges Kano governor not to defect to APC
Whether Abba Kabir Yusuf’s silence signals a strategic calculation or a genuine reluctance to engage in political speculation remains unclear, but the issue has become a defining and emotionally charged moment in Kano State’s political life.
