Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has resigned from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), a development poised to significantly reshape the political landscape of Kano State.
In a statement issued on Friday by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature, the Governor announced that his resignation took effect from January 23, 2026, citing persistent internal crises and deepening divisions within the party.
Yusuf said the NNPP had become increasingly fractured by leadership disputes and prolonged legal battles, many of which are currently before the courts, creating uncertainty at both the state and national levels.
“It is with a deep sense of gratitude that I formally notify the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party of my decision to resign my membership,” the Governor said in his resignation letter.
“In recent times, the party has been confronted with persistent internal challenges arising from leadership disagreements and ongoing legal processes. These developments have generated divisions that now appear largely irreconcilable.”
The Governor noted that his decision followed careful reflection and was guided by considerations of public interest and the overall development of Kano State.
“After careful reflection, and without prejudice to the party’s capacity to resolve its internal challenges, I have come to the conclusion that my resignation is in the best interest of the people of Kano State,” Yusuf said.
He thanked the NNPP for providing him a political platform since 2022, stressing that he was leaving the party in good faith and without bitterness.
Yusuf’s exit is not isolated. He resigned alongside 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and 44 local government chairmen, marking one of the largest political realignments in the state’s recent history.
Sources within the political circle disclosed that the Governor and his allies are expected to formally join the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the coming days, following recent consultations with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
The defection is also believed to have strained Yusuf’s relationship with his political benefactor and NNPP national leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Reacting to the development, Hon. Kabiru Zubairu, Secretary of the NNPP in Diso-Chiranchi Ward — the Governor’s ward — acknowledged receipt of Yusuf’s resignation letter and praised his performance in office.
He commended the Governor’s achievements in infrastructure, health, education, and economic development, while admitting that internal crises had weakened the party.
“We have no option but to accept the departure of our most performing governor,” Zubairu said.
Meanwhile, NNPP factional chairman in Kano State, Senator Mas’ud Eljibril, had earlier urged the Governor to formally notify what he described as the “legally recognised” party leadership before defecting.
“If the Governor decides to leave the NNPP, it is his choice, but it must be done according to the rules and regulations of the party,” Eljibril had warned, adding that failure to do so could attract legal consequences.
Yusuf’s resignation is widely expected to trigger a major political realignment in Kano State, with implications for party dominance and electoral calculations ahead of future elections.
ADVERTISEMENTS
