The national leader of the New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has alleged that public office holders and political appointees in Kano State are being pressured to endorse an alleged plan by Governor Abba Yusuf to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State, made the claim in a short video shared on Facebook on Tuesday by his aide, Saifullahi Hassan. He said those affected include state lawmakers, local government chairmen and councillors, who were allegedly forced to choose between the Kwankwassiya movement and the Gandujiyya faction associated with the APC.
According to him, several of the affected officials had contacted him to complain about the pressure they were facing since the political crisis began in the state.
Kwankwaso said he advised those under duress to comply with the government's demands in order to ease the pressure on them.
"Today, 13th January 2026 (yesterday), I returned back to town, and received some good news and others were unpleasant, especially how the government came up with decision that the chairmen, councillors, secretaries and other political appointees to decide whether they support Kwankwasiyya or Gandujiyya. It is something unpleasant," he said.
"Since this crisis started, several chairmen have called me, some councillors who had the opportunity to access me, political appointees and state lawmakers, have spoken to me about their predicament. Some had sleepless nights, some were placed on drip in hospitals," Kwankwaso added.
He said consultations were held with key stakeholders to reduce the hardship faced by those affected. “We told those who were compelled to append their signatures to go ahead and do so. This will ease the pressure they faced,” he stated.
Kwankwaso noted that the political struggle ahead of the 2027 general elections remained intact, adding that NNPP supporters were known and resolute. “We know the battle for 2027 is still ahead. We know our supporters are there, they know themselves and we know them. I thank the general public and caucuses who were also pressurised and wooed with several promises,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to Governor Yusuf, saying, “It is on this note that I thank the governor who, two days ago, hailed our then administration and exposed the previous administration which abandoned so many projects.”
The crisis reportedly followed speculation that Governor Yusuf was planning to defect from the NNPP to the APC, a move said to be against the wishes of his political benefactor, Kwankwaso.
