Gov Yusuf faces defection standoff as APC rejects ‘automatic ticket’ demand

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is reportedly caught in a high-stakes political standoff over his planned defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Despite weeks of discussions with APC leaders at both the national and state levels, the party has reportedly refused to grant Yusuf’s demand for a written guarantee of an automatic ticket to contest the 2027 gubernatorial election under its platform.

Sources familiar with the negotiations revealed that the governor’s conditions include assurances of the gubernatorial ticket, influence over federal appointments in Kano, and the authority to nominate a federal minister representing the state.

However, APC leaders have emphasized that all candidates must participate in the party’s primary election processes, and no special concessions will be made for any defector.

Political observers note that internal rivalry within the APC, particularly involving Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, who is considered a strong contender for the 2027 governorship ticket, has complicated the negotiations.

Amid mounting pressure, Governor Yusuf recently convened a State Executive Council meeting in Abuja, where he appeared in his signature Kwankwasiyya red cap and prominently displayed the NNPP flag, fueling speculation about his indecision and the tensions within local politics.

Meanwhile, his deputy, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, has reportedly pledged to remain in the NNPP, a stance that could create further friction if Yusuf proceeds with a defection.

As the governor weighs his options, his political mentor and Kwankwasiyya movement leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is reportedly exploring alternative political alliances, including a possible alignment with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), seen as a potential “third force” ahead of the 2027 elections.

(Politics Digest)