Twenty-two members of the Kano State House of Assembly have defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmakers announced their defection during a plenary session on Monday, shortly after Governor Abba Yusuf formally resigned from the NNPP following his recent visit to President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
In his resignation letter addressed to the chairman of the Diso–Chiranchi Ward in Gwale Local Government Area, Yusuf attributed his decision to what he described as “deepening internal crises” and “prolonged leadership disputes” within the party.
The governor’s defection was carried out alongside 22 state lawmakers, eight members of the House of Representatives, and all 44 local government chairmen in Kano State.
Among the defectors are the Speaker of the House, Jibril Falgore (Rogo), and the Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Bello Butu Butu (Tofa/Rimin Gado).
Also leaving the NNPP are the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussain (Dala); the Deputy Majority Leader, Garba Shehu Fammar (Kibiya); and the Chief Whip, Muddasir Ibrahim Zawachiki (Kumbotso).
A video of the event, shared on X by user @Imranmuhdz, captured the formal proceedings in the assembly chamber, where Speaker Falgore called each member to speak and publicly announce their defection.
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Announcing his defection, Rep. Rabiu Shuaibu (Dawakin Kudu) said, “I, Shuaibu Rabiu, representing Dawakin Kudu, resign my membership of the NNPP to the APC with immediate effect from today (Monday).”
Another lawmaker, Tukur Mohammed (Fagge), said, “Mr Speaker, I am here to confirm I am resigning my membership of the NNPP and joining the APC.”
Other lawmakers who joined the APC include Zakariyya Abdullahi Nuhu (Gabasawa), Lawal Tini (Ajingi), Musa Tahir Haruna (Albasu), Ali Lawan Alhassan (Bagwai/Shanono), Ali Muhammad Tiga (Bebeji), and Hafiz Gambo (Bunkure).
The list also includes Murtala Muhammad Kadage (Garko), Abdulmajid Isah Umar (Gwale), Ahmad Ibrahim (Karaye), Alhassan Zakari (Kura/Garun Malam), Suleiman Mukhtar Ishaq (Madobi), Abdulhamid Abdul (Minjibir), Muhammad Ibrahim (Rano), Kabiru Sule Dahiru (Tarauni), and Ali Abdullahi Manager (Wudil).
Reacting to Governor Yusuf’s defection, the national leader of the NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, had earlier described the development as a betrayal and declared January 23 as “World Betrayal Day”.
Kwankwaso played a key role in Yusuf’s emergence as Kano State governor in the 2023 election through the Kwankwasiyya political movement.
