Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has formally resigned from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), triggering a significant mass exit that includes dozens of elected officials who left alongside him, amid deepening internal crises and speculation of a defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Yusuf announced his resignation effective January 23, 2026 (with some reports citing January 25), citing persistent internal disputes, legal challenges, and the need to safeguard broader state interests.
In a letter addressed to the chairman of his ward (Diso-Chiranchi), he expressed gratitude for past support but highlighted irreconcilable differences within the party.
The governor was joined in the resignation by a substantial group of his political allies and elected representatives:
21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly (including the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ismail Falgore, and representing a majority of the chamber's NNPP caucus).
8 members of the House of Representatives from Kano constituencies.
44 Local Government Chairmen across Kano State's 44 LGAs.
This totals at least 74 high-profile figures (Governor + 21 Assembly members + 8 Reps + 44 LG Chairmen), though some reports describe additional "others" resigning in solidarity.
The move has been widely described as a mass defection or realignment, severely weakening the NNPP's foothold in Kano, where it had dominated since the 2023 elections under the influence of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya movement.
The resignations come after weeks of speculation fueled by Governor Yusuf's visits to the Presidential Villa in Abuja and reported pressures to align with the ruling APC. Sources indicate the group reaffirmed loyalty to the governor while exiting the NNPP structure.
The NNPP has strongly condemned the development, with party officials labeling it a "betrayal of sacred trust" and a breach of the mandate given by Kano voters in 2023.
National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson rejected claims of irredeemable party crisis as baseless and an afterthought.
Meanwhile, former NNPP leader Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso has broken his silence, declaring he is "not for sale" and refusing to compromise his principles amid the fallout.
The exodus has intensified political realignments in Kano ahead of future elections, with the APC potentially gaining significant ground in the state.
No formal defection to another party has been confirmed yet, but analysts view the move as paving the way for alignment with the ruling party at the federal level.
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