Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The announcement was made at an elaborate ceremony held at the Coronation Hall of the Government House in Kano, where the governor was flanked by prominent members of his former party and key stakeholders of the APC who witnessed the declaration.
The governor cited the overall interest of the state as yardstick, noting that an alignment of Kano with the central government will have positive multiple effects for the state.
Dignitaries at the event included a former Chairman of the APC and immediate past Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje — who until this defection was regarded as the Governor’s political rival — the Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin; the Minister of State for Housing; members of the National Assembly from Kano State, as well as former deputy governors, former federal lawmakers, and key business leaders.
The governor said his decision to defect to the APC was taken in the interest of the people of Kano State, stressing that governance should not be weighed down by party affiliation but driven by policies and alliances that will benefit the state.
Governor Yusuf said the move represents a choice of progress over pride, development over stagnation, and stability over partisan interest.
Also in attendance were the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Ismail Falgore; twenty-one serving state lawmakers said to be loyal to the Governor; and top members of the New Nigeria People’s Party who chose to defect alongside the Governor.
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The governor defected with the support of the forty-four local government chairmen across the state, led to the event by the Chairman of Tudun Wada Local Government Area who also serves as the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, in the state.
However, the defection triggered internal dissent, as four commissioners resigned from the State Executive Council in protest.
Among them is the Commissioner for Youth who is the son of former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Others are commissioners for Internal security, science and technology, women affairs and that of Humanitarian Affairs
Earlier in the day, banners and flags of the APC from various support groups flooded the main gate of the Government House, replacing those of the New Nigeria People’s Party.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
