KANO — The Sani Abacha Stadium became a theatre of conflicting political emotions on Monday, February 16, 2026, as Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf officially completed his high-stakes defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). While the event was marked by a “mammoth crowd” of supporters, it was equally defined by an undercurrent of dissent, with vocal sections of the stadium erupting into chants of “Bamayi! Bamayi!” (meaning “We are not with you” or “We are not in support” in Hausa).
The defection, which signals a seismic shift in North-West politics, saw the Governor leading 22 state lawmakers, eight federal legislators, and all 44 local government chairmen from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) into the ruling party.
The President’s Notable Absence
In a move that has sparked intense speculation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not attend the grand reception, despite initial reports and high expectations for his arrival. Instead, the President was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who officially received the Governor and his massive entourage.
While official sources maintained that the President was occupied with other national duties, including an ₦8 billion donation for Kano’s Singer Market fire victims, critics have been quick to label the absence a “calculated strategic skip.”
“Disgrace Averted” or “Strategic Planning”?
The “Bamayi” chants echoing through the stadium have refocused national attention on the deep political divisions within Kano. For many Nigerians on social media, the President’s absence was a wise move to avoid being the target of the public’s vocal frustration.
“Tinubu wisely skipped the reception,” one local commentator noted on X (formerly Twitter). “Facing those ‘Bamayi’ chants inside the stadium would have been a public relations disaster. Kano people are known for being blunt, and they were ready to show it yesterday.”
Criticisms from Nigerians have been sharp and varied:
- “Political Betrayal”: Supporters of the Kwankwasiyya movement have labeled Governor Yusuf’s move as the “ultimate betrayal” of the NNPP and its leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
- “Buying the Future”: Critics of the APC argue that the mass defection is a “desperate attempt” to secure the 2027 vote in Nigeria’s most populous state, rather than a genuine move for development.
- “Market over Stadium”:Â Some Nigerians praised the Vice President for visiting the burnt Singer Market but questioned why the government prioritized a “political circus” at a time when traders were mourning their livelihoods.
A “Homecoming” or a “Had Way”?
APC National Chairman Abdullahi Umar Ganduje described the Governor’s return to the party as a “homecoming,” noting that Yusuf was a founding member of the APC before his 2018 exit. However, others, like former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad, noted that while the gathering was “massive,” the mixed reactions show that the road to 2027 will not be a smooth ride for the new alliance.
As the dust settles on the defection, the “Bamayi” chants serve as a stark reminder that while political leaders may move in convoys, the “good people of Kano” still hold the ultimate power of the voice.
