Kano Governor Yusuf Meets President Tinubu Amid Defection Speculations

Amidst growing speculation about his planned defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC), Abba Yusuf, the Kano State governor, on Monday met behind closed doors with Bola Tinubu, Nigeria’s President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting is the first engagement by Tinubu since his return from the United Arab Emirates, UAE, after participating in the 2026 edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Week (ADSW2026). BusinessDay gathered that the visit was connected with the planned defection of Abba Yusuf, a development that has fuelled the ongoing political tension in Kano. The President has face serious criticisms over the defection of opposition Governors, as many fear that the development is capable of turning Nigeria into a one party state. It is however, not very clear, if Yusuf, the only Governor elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has the blessing of his party to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Kano, with 44 local governments, is the most populous state in Nigeria and has continued to attract the attention of the President because of ite political advantages. Last year, President Tinubu had held several meetings with Musa Kwankwaso, as leader of the NNPP and the Kwankwasiya Movement. Speculation then was that Kwankwaso who was the NNPP presidential candidate in 2023, will replace Kashim Shettima as President Tinubu’s running mate in 2027 But the move crashed soon after Umar Ganduje resigned from office as the APC national Chairman. BusinessDay gathered that Yusuf has however, given conditions which the APC must meet if he defects to the ruling party. It was also gathered that in keeping with the tradition of others who have defected, he will be allowed to remain as the leader of the party in the State. Others include the demands to be given powers to nominate Minister to represent Kano State, as well as have the authority to clear out current federal appointees in Kano and replace them with his loyalists. BusinessDay checks show that the President and APC has accepted his demands. Despite the brewing crisis over the defection plans, the Presidency appears to be keeping the door wide open. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, a prominent APC chieftain, recently claimed in a viral video that President Tinubu specifically ordered the suspension of the party’s e-registration exercise in Kano. According to Doguwa, the President wants to ensure that Governor Yusuf is the very first person to be registered in the state. The demands for an automatic APC ticket for 2027, have reportedly created a rift between Yusuf and Barau Jibrin, the current Deputy Senate President and an APC chieftain, who is widely considered a frontrunner for the 2027 governorship under the APC banner. Barau became the APC leader in the State, following the resignation of Umar Ganduje, as the party’s national Chairman on health grounds. The political cost of this potential move is already being felt within the Governor’s inner circle. His godfather and NNPP National Leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has expressed his disapproval, describing the plan as an act of betrayal and a move that will carry consequences in the next election