Kwankwaso, resisting the defection, has set up a "loyalty register" at his residence to track NNPP loyalists. However, Governor Yusuf’s influence appears stronger, with reports indicating a mass shift of supporters from the Kwankwasiyya movement to his camp. Supporters of the governor claim he aims to break free from Kwankwaso’s control to focus on governance, while critics view it as a betrayal of their shared political legacy.
Key figures like Senator Rufa’i Hanga (Kano Central) and several House of Representatives members have pledged loyalty to Kwankwaso by signing the register. Yet, Governor Yusuf reportedly holds the backing of 21 federal lawmakers, including APC members like Ado Doguwa, who openly supports the governor’s transition.
At the state level, most NNPP lawmakers in the Kano Assembly align with Yusuf, though a few, including Yusuf Aliyu (Nasarawa) and Zakariyya Ishaq (Kura/Garun Malam), remain with Kwankwaso. The governor also enjoys near-total support from local government chairpersons, their deputies, and ward executives. Grassroots groups like Lafiya Jari and the Community Reorientation Committee (CRC) have also switched allegiance.
Notably, a PDP faction ("Option A"), once a covert support base for Kwankwaso, has disbanded and joined Yusuf. The governor’s defection is expected to include 9 of Kano’s 13 federal lawmakers, 20 of 27 state assembly members (including the speaker), and 42 of 44 LG chairpersons.
Kwankwaso’s refusal to join the APC stems from unmet demands for a 2027 presidential or vice-presidential ticket, a condition he reiterated during a recent meeting. Meanwhile, Governor Yusuf has consolidated control over NNPP’s state structure after the court-backed suspension of former chairman Hashim Dungurawa.
With Yusuf’s defection deemed irreversible, NNPP risks losing its only governorship seat and political relevance ahead of 2027. APC leaders like ex-Governor Ganduje and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin have welcomed Yusuf, though his entry may disrupt internal party dynamics, particularly Jibrin’s rumored governorship ambitions.
While Kwankwaso clings to the NNPP’s mandate, framing it as a collective victory, Yusuf’s pivot to the APC signals a dramatic realignment in Kano’s politics, leaving Kwankwaso increasingly isolated.
