The political temperature in Kano State rose some days ago as the All Progressives Congress (APC), former national chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, traded sharp words over the political future of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The clash followed comments by Kwankwaso in a BBC interview, where he declared that Governor Yusuf had “sealed his fate” for the 2027 governorship election by defecting from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the APC and aligning with Ganduje.Kwankwaso stated this in his first interview after the defection of Governor Yusuf, 22 NNPP lawmakers, some federal lawmakers and 44 council chairmen to the ruling APC last Monday in Kano.
During the defection ceremony, Ganduje had assured Yusuf of an automatic return ticket on the APC platform ahead of the 2027 election. Ganduje, Kwankwaso’s former deputy governor-turned-political foe, had defeated Yusuf (backed by Kwankwaso) in a keenly contested 2019 election.
“I am not God. Only God gives power. Let us pray that we are all alive to see 2027,” he said.
“If by then he loses, then he is right; if he wins, then he is wrong. What matters is that God determines leadership.” he said philosophically. “We are praying that we all see 2027. He is just making comments because he is not God and it’s only God that gives power, whether with Kwankwasiyya or anyone,” he said.
For his part, the Kano State APC publicity secretary, Hon. Ahmad Aruwa, described Kwankwaso’s comments as “baseless and senseless,” arguing that the former governor had lost political relevance and grassroots support in the state.
“It seems like he has lost his way, he has lost his victory, and even he has lost the support of the people of Kano. I think he has made it clear to himself that this is somebody who lived with him for almost 40 years. So, can you tell me about someone you lived with for almost 40 years who left you within a short period of time?
“So, actually, what I understand from his interview with the BBC is that he has lost control. He has lost support. He has lost almost everything he thought he was going to get.
“He knows why Governor Yusuf left the party. He knows why,” he said.
Ganduje said the APC was confident of victory in 2027, citing what he described as massive defections of political heavyweights, federal lawmakers, state assembly members and local government chairmen into the party.
He claimed that Kwankwaso’s camp had lost most of its electoral structures, particularly in the Kano South Senatorial District.
“By God’s grace, in 2027, we will win because we have all the manpower, all the politicians; all the bigwigs are here with us.
“We lost people in 2023, like Kawu Samaila, and about five powerful people. Now, those people that we lost are here with us, their supporters, and the governor is here with us. So, I have confidence in 2027. By the grace of God, APC will be on top.”
The Kano APC chieftain further rejected Kwankwaso’s assertion that Governor Yusuf would regret leaving the NNPP, insisting that the governor had moved from darkness to light by joining the APC and was focused on developing the state and leveraging federal support for Kano.
Earlier, Kwankwaso had accused Governor Yusuf of betraying the mandate of NNPP supporters and handing it over to the Gandujiyya political camp, warning that the decision would haunt him politically.
He declared that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has effectively lost his chances of reelection by banking on the political influence of former governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Speaking in his first media interview since parting ways with Governor Yusuf, Kwankwaso told the BBC that the governor’s political fate was sealed the moment Ganduje publicly raised his hand following Yusuf’s defection to the APC.
“I saw it in the papers that it was Ganduje who raised his hand, and at that moment, it symbolised for us that he had lost the election,” Kwankwaso said.
“If Ganduje truly had that level of influence, he would have delivered in 2019 and 2023, because I know the people of Kano do not support Ganduje. That was evident in our victory in the last election when we were the weaker party with zero support.”
Kwankwaso expressed deep disappointment over Governor Yusuf’s decision to leave NNPP.
“He has taken the mandate of NNPP members and the people of Kano and handed it over to the Gandujiyya political camp without any strong justification,” he said.
Reflecting on the fallout, the former governor said he had repeatedly questioned what went wrong but could not fault the party or its members.
“When I lie down to sleep, I reflect and ask myself: what really happened? Who was at fault? Was it me? Was it the party? Were the party members at fault? I cannot find an answer,” he stated.
Commenting on NNPP members who defected but still claim allegiance to the Kwankwasiyya ideology, Kwankwaso dismissed such assertions, insisting that the movement’s ideology and structure are distinct.
“Our ideology and structure are different. If you say you want to continue being part of Kwankwasiyya, why did you leave its stronghold? You should have stayed and continued the ideology at its home base. It doesn’t matter if you continue wearing the red cap; we will continue to see you as Gandujiyya loyalists.”
Until recently, Yusuf was regarded as one of the closest members of Kwankwaso’s inner circle. Popularly known as “Abba PA”, a reference to his long years as Kwankwaso’s personal assistant, Yusuf’s loyalty to his mentor spanned over 40 years, from bureaucratic service to partisan politics, eventually making him an in-law of the former governor.
When Kwankwaso resigned from WRECA to join politics, Yusuf followed. During Kwankwaso’s first tenure as governor between 1999 and 2003, Yusuf served as his personal assistant and continued in that role when Kwankwaso became Minister of Defence during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Upon Kwankwaso’s return as governor in 2011, Yusuf was appointed Principal Private Secretary and later Commissioner for Works, one of the most influential portfolios in the state government.
After Kwankwaso left office in 2015, Yusuf remained his private secretary before being handpicked as the Kwankwasiyya Movement’s governorship candidate in 2019; an election he narrowly lost. In 2023, again with Kwankwaso’s backing, Yusuf emerged governor.
Multiple sources close to the duo revealed that the falling-out caught many by surprise and that political battle lines have now been drawn, suggesting that unless a major compromise is reached, both leaders may soon be openly critical of each other.
At the center of the crisis, sources said, is a familiar dynamic in godfather politics: the godfather’s expectation of unquestioned loyalty, rooted in the belief that the godson’s political rise and survival are owed entirely to him, and the godson’s growing insistence on autonomy, driven by a conviction that he has come of age politically.
The rift burst into the open this week when several aides to the governor confirmed his plans to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The move, however, reportedly did not receive Kwankwaso’s blessing, with the former governor said to have complained that he was not given convincing reasons for such a switch.
The development immediately threw the Kwankwasiyya Movement, led by Kwankwaso, into confusion.
The defection has reopened old rivalries in Kano politics, revived questions about the volatility of godfather–godson relationships and reshaped political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Observers have drawn parallels with crises in Rivers and Benue States since 2023. In Rivers, the feud between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his estranged political godfather, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, culminated in a declaration of a state of emergency and the suspension of the governor and other elected officials for six months. In Benue, Governor Hyacinth Alia’s standoff with his political benefactor and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, has defied reconciliation efforts, split the APC into factions and triggered clashes among supporters.
In Kano, the emerging rift has come as a shock to many because of the tightly knit Kwankwasiyya Movement that swept Yusuf to power. Political analysts, however, said it was only a matter of time, arguing that with competing ambitions at stake, a rupture was inevitable.
Insiders said Yusuf resolved to move to the APC, with or without Kwankwaso’s blessing, after extensive consultations with key stakeholders, including members of the Kano State House of Assembly, local government chairmen and federal lawmakers from the state.
A senior aide to the governor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the decision was largely driven by internal crises within the NNPP which, he said, could jeopardise Yusuf’s chances of securing a second term.
“The major reason is that the NNPP is no longer a viable platform because of the numerous litigations against it,” the source said. “Even if the governor stays, Kwankwaso’s inner circle has decided he will not get the ticket. Their plan is to give the deputy governor the chance.”
The source further alleged that resistance to Yusuf’s re-election was rooted in fears that his growing profile and visible projects across the state could eclipse Kwankwaso’s political legacy.
“They don’t want him to outshine Kwankwaso. His work is visible, and they don’t want him to continue,” he said.
Another source close to both Governor Yusuf and Senator Kwankwaso said the feud is essentially political rather than personal, insisting it is driven largely by the political survival instincts of both leaders.
“The main issue is that Kwankwaso became disappointed with Governor Yusuf because the level of loyalty he expected is no longer there. He felt he was not enjoying the loyalty he used to,” one of the sources said.
According to the source, Kwankwaso’s disappointment stemmed from the growing independence Yusuf began to assert in governance.
“He thought he would still be treating files and giving approvals. He more or less appointed all the commissioners and heads of agencies at the beginning of the administration, and this influence continued until recently. Even in the appointment of the new anti-corruption boss, the governor wanted to retain Muhuyi, but Kwankwaso opposed it and brought in the current one,” the source, who is familiar with the developments and close to both leaders, said.
WALE LAWAL (08037209290)
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