Defection: Kwankwaso directs lawmakers to toe line as loyalty test begins

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has reportedly instructed political office holders and lawmakers in the state to maintain public loyalty to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf despite rising internal tensions within the party.

The directive follows widespread speculation that Governor Yusuf may be considering a move from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a development that has unsettled the party and triggered cracks between the governor and key figures in the NNPP leadership.

Sources say Kwankwaso has begun identifying trusted allies within the state government and the legislature, a move seen as an effort to safeguard his political structure and retain influence amid the uncertainty surrounding the governor’s political future.

The internal rift has already played out publicly, with some staunch NNPP loyalists reportedly absent from official state functions attended by Governor Yusuf, underscoring the widening gap between his supporters and members of the Kwankwasiyya political movement.

The unfolding situation points to a growing power struggle in Kano politics, as Governor Yusuf appears to be consolidating backing among state officials, while long-standing NNPP supporters and grassroots loyalists continue to align themselves firmly with Kwankwaso.