Kano Governor Abba Yusuf to Join APC, Deputy Governor Faces Impeachment

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf is set to defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the first week of January 2026. Governor Yusuf currently controls 25 of the 27 NNPP members in the Kano State House of Assembly, following the deaths of two members.

The defection is reportedly taking place without the backing of former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, the NNPP leader, who has rejected the move. Kwankwaso had summoned NNPP lawmakers to a meeting, where he reportedly told them that anyone wishing to follow Yusuf to the APC was free to do so, but questioned the rationale behind the defection.

In a related development, Governor Yusuf is said to have initiated steps to remove his deputy, Aminu Abdulsalam, through impeachment, reportedly to pave the way for Murtala Sule-Garo, the APC deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 election, to assume the position.

The political maneuver has sparked discussions among Kano State observers, highlighting ongoing realignments ahead of upcoming elections. Sources indicate that Yusuf’s decision to defect is final, with efforts underway to integrate him into the APC ahead of the party’s congresses in February 2026.