The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) remains confident of retaining control of Kano State in the 2027 governorship election, regardless of whether incumbent Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf defects to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a senior party chieftain has declared.
Ladipo Johnson, the NNPP's National Publicity Secretary, made the bold assertion during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
He emphasized the party's proven track record of electoral success in Kano without the advantages of incumbency or widespread official structures.
“In 2019, without a sitting governor or members of the House of Assembly, etc, we believe we won Kano, but yes, INEC said it was inconclusive, and later on Ganduje won a re-election. In 2023, same position. We went up against the APC, and well, His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf knows that he won the elections,” Johnson stated.
He added: “NNPP won the elections, won most of the seats, and we did this without having anyone in situ, any officials in situ, no councilors, nothing. We were able to win Kano, and by God’s special grace, in 2027, the same thing will happen whether or not he has left us or whether he’s with us.”
Johnson described the party's grassroots strength and organizational resilience as key factors, insisting that NNPP's victories stem from popular support rather than institutional power.
“And that sounds slightly arrogant. I’m not being arrogant. I’m just saying it’s politics, and I believe that we will be able to win Kano,” he concluded.
The statement comes amid heightened speculation about Governor Yusuf's potential defection from the NNPP to the APC.
Yusuf, elected in 2023 on the NNPP platform with backing from NNPP national leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has faced rumors of switching parties following a recent closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.
The visit reportedly focused on security, infrastructure, and federal support for Kano, though it reignited talks of political realignment.
Kwankwaso and other NNPP loyalists have strongly opposed any move by Yusuf to the APC, with some party figures warning of betrayal and predicting that not all Kwankwasiyya supporters would follow him.
Internal tensions within the NNPP in Kano, including leadership disputes and court cases over party control, have further complicated the situation.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Yusuf's future, Johnson downplayed the impact of any potential defection, asserting that the NNPP's established structures in Kano would enable it to triumph in 2027.
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