Amid growing political speculation, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Monday held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, fuelling rumours of a possible defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor Yusuf, elected on the platform of the NNPP, arrived at the President’s office at about 4:13 pm, dressed in his trademark white babanriga and red Kwankwasiyya cap.
The meeting, held away from the press, has intensified talks within political circles about a potential realignment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governor declined to comment when approached by State House correspondents after the meeting. His visit came a day after President Tinubu returned to the country from a foreign trip.
While in Abuja, Yusuf reportedly presided over a Kano State Executive Council meeting at the Kano State Governor’s Lodge on Friday.
Reports have suggested that earlier moves towards defection may have stalled over disagreements, including claims that the APC declined an alleged demand for an automatic governorship ticket for Yusuf ahead of the 2027 polls.
However, the NNPP’s national leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has dismissed claims that he endorsed any planned defection, insisting that no such approval was given.
Meanwhile, the APC Chairman in Kano State, Abdullahi Abbas, has hinted that Governor Yusuf may formally join the party within days. Abbas disclosed this while addressing about 1,500 ad hoc staff engaged for the party’s ongoing electronic membership registration (e-registration) exercise across the state.
According to him, the commencement of the exercise in Kano was delayed to allow the return of the party’s national leader in the state, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and the governor from Abuja, where both were engaged in meetings with President Tinubu.
“Be on standby. We may call on you tomorrow, Tuesday, depending on the arrival of the party leader, Ganduje, and the governor in Kano. But it will not exceed Wednesday,” Abbas said, hinting that Yusuf may collect his APC membership card within that period.
Abbas explained that although the e-registration exercise began nationwide about two weeks ago, Kano State opted to wait due to prevailing political developments, particularly speculation surrounding the governor’s possible defection.
“We felt it would not be polite to hurriedly commence the process without giving them the opportunity to join the party,” he noted.
He urged the ad hoc staff to conduct the exercise with fairness and diligence, stressing that the APC is open to all without discrimination.
He also disclosed that the party had introduced incentives to encourage massive mobilisation, with rewards for local governments and wards that record the highest number of new members.
Abbas further emphasised that party membership is a prerequisite for participation in APC activities, adding that only individuals with valid National Identification Numbers (NIN) and voter cards would be eligible for registration.
“The exercise will last until the end of the month, and it will help us determine our strength and prepare adequately for future electoral victories,” he said
