Now official: Mass defection rocks Kano assembly as 21 lawmakers dump NNPP for APC

The political landscape of Kano State has been dramatically shaken as 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly have officially defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers announced their defection on Monday, coming just days after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf formally resigned from the NNPP, a development that has triggered widespread political realignment across the state.

Yusuf’s resignation followed his recent meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja, a move widely viewed as a major turning point in Kano politics.

In a letter addressed to the chairman of Diso-Chiranchi Ward in Gwale Local Government Area, the governor attributed his exit to deepening internal crises and prolonged leadership disputes within the NNPP.

The mass defection extended beyond the governor, as 21 state lawmakers, eight members of the House of Representatives and all 44 local government chairmen in Kano State also withdrew from the party.

Those who defected from the House of Assembly include Speaker Jibril Ismail Falgore representing Rogo, Deputy Speaker Muhammad Bello Butu Butu representing Tofa/Rimin Gado, Majority Leader Lawan Hussain representing Dala, Deputy Majority Leader Garba Shehu Fammar representing Kibiya, and Chief Whip Muddasir Ibrahim Zawachiki representing Kumbotso.

Others are Zakariyya Abdullahi Nuhu of Gabasawa, Lawal Tini of Ajingi, Musa Tahir Haruna of Albasu, Ali Lawan Alhassan of Bagwai/Shanono, Ali Muhammad Tiga of Bebeji, Hafiz Gambo of Bunkure and Rabiu Shuaibu of Dawakin Kudu.

Also joining the APC are Tukur Mohammed of Fagge, Murtala Muhammad Kadage of Garko, Abdulmajid Isah Umar of Gwale, Engr. Ahmad Ibrahim of Karaye, Alhassan Zakari of Kura/Garun Malam and Suleiman Mukhtar Ishaq of Madobi.

The list was completed by Abdulhamid Abdul of Minjibir, Muhammad Ibrahim of Rano, Kabiru Sule Dahiru of Tarauni and Ali Abdullahi Manager of Wudil.

Reacting to the development, NNPP national leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso declared January 23 as “World Betrayal Day,” describing the mass defection as a major political betrayal.

Kwankwaso played a key role in Yusuf’s emergence as governor during the 2023 general election through the Kwankwasiyya movement.