The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State has appealed to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to remain with the party, warning that any defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) would amount to a betrayal of the mandate freely given to him by the electorate.
The party’s position was made known on Wednesday in Kano by the NNPP State Chairman, Alhaji Hashimu Dungurawa, during an interaction with journalists. Dungurawa cautioned that a move by the governor to the APC would not enjoy the support of the party and would be resisted by NNPP faithful across the state.
According to him, the party leadership had exhausted several internal mechanisms to preserve unity within the NNPP and was still engaging the governor and his supporters through all available channels to dissuade them from leaving the party.
Dungurawa disclosed that reports reaching the party suggested that some elements within the NNPP were determined to defect, but stressed that neither the party nor its national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, was responsible for the current tensions.
“We have convinced them not to decamp to the APC, and we are still persuading them to stay with us and continue the good work of serving the people, particularly in agriculture and support for small businesses, as enshrined in our party constitution,” he said.
He also issued a warning to individuals allegedly attempting to sow discord between Governor Yusuf and key party leaders, including Senator Kwankwaso, Senator Rufai Hanga, Sanusi Surajo Kwankwaso, and himself.
“It is unfortunate that some people are accusing us because of our closeness to Kwankwaso. Let me state clearly that at no time have we been involved in any wrongdoing against anyone,” Dungurawa added.
The NNPP’s public appeal comes amid heightened political tension in Kano following reports of a late-night meeting between Governor Yusuf and two prominent APC figures from the state. Those said to have attended the meeting are Alhaji Kabir Alhassan Rurum, the House of Representatives member representing Rano, Kibiya and Bunkure Federal Constituency, and Dr. Baffa Babba Dan’agundi, Director-General of the National Productivity Centre.
Political sources in Kano suggest that the meeting may be linked to ongoing discussions over a possible defection of the governor from the NNPP to the APC. The talks are also believed to involve considerations around the choice of a deputy governor from the Kano South Senatorial District, a zone that has never produced a deputy governor since the creation of the state.
As political calculations intensify, observers say the coming weeks will be critical in determining the future political alignment of Kano State and the internal cohesion of the NNPP.
