Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano, has formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), taking with him a majority of elected lawmakers from the state and the National Assembly in a move that has significantly altered the political balance in Kano.
The defection was announced on Monday at a well-attended political gathering held at the Coronation Hall of the Government House in Kano.
At the event, Governor Yusuf declared that 22 of the 24 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and nine of the state’s 14 members of the House of Representatives had agreed to join him in moving to the ruling party.
Addressing party leaders, supporters and stakeholders, the governor said the decision followed extensive consultations across political, legislative and grassroots levels.
He explained that the shift was driven by the need to strengthen governance, reduce political tension and fast-track development across the state.
Yusuf described political parties as platforms rather than final goals, stressing that his administration’s priority remained the welfare and progress of the people of Kano.
He urged residents to judge the decision by the outcomes his government would deliver rather than party affiliation.
The event drew several prominent figures of the APC, including former national chairman of the party and ex-Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje; Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin; and Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abubakar Kabiru Bichi, among others.
Reacting to the mass defection, the Chairman of the APC in Kano State, Abdullahi Abbas, described the development as historic, assuring party members of their loyalty and support for Governor Yusuf as the new leader of the party in the state.
Senator Barau Jibrin also called on his supporters to rally behind the governor, urging unity and cooperation in pursuit of Kano’s development agenda.
Welcoming the governor and the lawmakers into the party, Abdullahi Ganduje described Yusuf as a committed progressive, declaring him the undisputed leader of the APC in Kano State.
He said the party’s leadership and members were fully aligned with the governor going forward.
Political analysts said the defection of the governor alongside a large bloc of state and federal lawmakers is expected to have far-reaching implications for party politics and governance in Kano State ahead of future electoral contests.
