Dare Babalola
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has resigned from the New Nigeria People’s Party, alongside 21 members of the State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives and 44 local government chairmen in the state.
Yusuf announced his decision in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Diso-Chiranchi Ward of the NNPP in Gwale Local Government Area, with the resignation taking effect from January 25, 2026.
Recall that Yusuf, on Monday, met with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid heightened speculation over his planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor, dressed in his signature flowing white northern babanriga and a red Kwankwasiyya cap, was spotted by our correspondent making his way to the President’s office at 4:13pm local time.
He departed the Villa about three hours later but declined to speak to journalists.
However, it was learnt that the governor is due to return later in the week to provide the President with feedback on the issues discussed at the meeting.
The visit comes amid Yusuf’s planned defection from the New Nigeria People’s Party to the ruling APC, a move that has been postponed multiple times since early January.
The governor’s audience with the President is his first known meeting with Tinubu since the latter returned from Abu Dhabi, where he attended the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Yusuf’s political godfather, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has publicly described the planned defection as an act of betrayal and warned that the governor would face consequences in 2027 if he proceeds with the move.
The NNPP national leader’s son, Hon. Mustapha Kwankwaso, and other cabinet members loyal to Kwankwaso have reportedly vowed to resign immediately if the governor officially joins the APC.
