Kwankwaso, Kano People Feel Betrayed By Abba Yusuf’s Defection To APC – NNPP

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has accused Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf of betraying the party and its leader, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, after he joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

KanyiDaily recalls that Governor Abba Yusuf joined the APC on Monday, after several weeks of unsuccessful attempts to defect to the ruling party.

The governor defended his move, saying it was made “in the best interest of the people of Kano State.”

He resigned from the NNPP on Friday, citing ongoing internal conflicts and leadership disputes as reasons for his decision.

His defection has created a rift between him and Kwankwaso, leading some cabinet members loyal to the former governor to resign.

During an appearance on Channels TV on Monday night, NNPP spokesperson Ladipo Johnson said both Kwankwaso and the people of Kano feel betrayed by Yusuf’s action.

Asked whether Kwankwaso felt personally betrayed by the governor’s decision, Johnson said, “Naturally, he [Kwankwaso] feels betrayed. But it is not just about him.

“The people [Kano] endured eight years of what they described as bad governance and came out in their numbers to give a mandate to the NNPP through the leadership of Kwankwaso.”

He noted that the party had no political presence in the state before the election, yet still won the governorship.

“They voted the NNPP from scratch. We had no councillor, no chairman, yet we won the state. They stood by Abba Kabir Yusuf from the tribunal to the Court of Appeal and up to the Supreme Court,” the spokesman said.

Johnson argued that Yusuf’s move to join the APC without seeking advice from the electorate was a breach of trust.

“Without consulting the people, you hand power back to those who were voted out after eight years. That is an act of betrayal, no matter how you try to sugar-coat it,” he said.

He also dismissed claims that Yusuf could have become governor without Kwankwaso’s support, saying such statements were only being made now.

“It is easy to say that now. They are enjoying their five minutes. I am sure His Excellency, Abba Kabir Yusuf, would not stand up anywhere in the world to say that,” he said.

The NNPP Public Relations Officer Ibrahim Karaye also expressed disappointment over the development but insisted the party remains strong in Kano.

“We are really devastated. We feel betrayed and we are not happy with this development. But NNPP is still strong and remains the party to beat in Kano,” Karaye said.

Karaye also claimed that key party members were aware of Yusuf’s plans to leave but were ignored, and he rejected the idea that the defection was due to internal party issues.

He added that party leaders had limited access to the governor and were unable to advise him, saying, “The governor closed his doors. There was no access to him.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Rabiu Kwankwaso recently denied claims that he supported the alleged plan by Governor Abba Yusuf to defect to the APC.