Kano, Nigeria – On 23 January 2026, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf formally submitted his resignation to the Diso‑Chiranchi Ward chairman, ending his membership in the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and triggering a wave of defections across the state. In his letter, the governor thanked the party for its support since 2022 and cited “deepening internal crises, persistent leadership disputes, and ongoing court cases” as reasons for leaving, emphasizing the need to protect Kano’s stability
The exit is far from isolated. 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, 8 members of the House of Representatives, and 44 local‑government chairmen have also filed their resignations, signaling one of the largest political realignments in Kano’s recent history. Analysts say the mass departure could reshape power balances ahead of the 2027 elections, with many of the defectors expected to join the All Progressives Congress (APC) after completing the required formalities
A factional NNPP leadership, led by Senator Mas’ud Eljibril, has publicly demanded that Governor Yusuf submit a written resignation to the “legally recognised” NNPP before any defection, warning that failure to do so could invite future legal challenges, especially given three recent court judgments affirming their legitimacy ¹ ⁵. Ward Secretary Hon. Kabiru Zubairu acknowledged the resignation, commending the governor’s infrastructure and social projects while urging party members to remain orderly during the transition.
Governor Yusuf’s recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, where they discussed security, infrastructure, and federal‑state collaboration, has added fuel to speculation that his next political home will be the APC ². As Kano braces for the fallout, stakeholders are watching closely to see how the reshaped legislative landscape will influence policy and electoral strategies in the coming months.
