Twenty-two members of the Kano State House of Assembly have defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers announced their defection during plenary on Monday, shortly after Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf formally resigned from the NNPP following his recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
In his resignation letter addressed to the chairman of the Diso–Chiranchi Ward in Gwale Local Government Area, Governor Yusuf cited “deepening internal crises” and “prolonged leadership disputes” as reasons for quitting the party.
Yusuf’s defection was carried out alongside the 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).
Others include the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussain (Dala); Deputy Majority Leader, Garba Shehu Fammar (Kibiya); and the Chief Whip, Muddasir Ibrahim Zawachiki (Kumbotso).
A video of the proceedings, shared on X by user @Imranmuhdz, showed Speaker Falgore calling each lawmaker to publicly declare their defection on the floor of the House.
Announcing his decision, 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).”
Similarly, Tukur Mohammed (Fagge) told the House: “Mr Speaker, I am here to confirm that I am resigning my membership of the NNPP and joining the APC.”
Other lawmakers who defected 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).
Also on the list are 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 earlier to Governor Yusuf’s defection, national leader of the NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, described the move as a betrayal and declared January 23 as “World Betrayal Day”.
Kwankwaso played a pivotal role in Yusuf’s emergence as Kano State governor in the 2023 election through the Kwankwasiyya political movement.
