Kwankwaso said the decision came as a shock to him and his political allies, stressing that it would have consequences.
Musa Kwankwaso, a former governor of Kano State and leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has reacted to the reported defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the move as a "betrayal."
Speaking to BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso said the decision came as a shock to him and his political allies, stressing that it would have consequences.
"We never expected this kind of betrayal from Governor Abba. He will regret his decision."
Kwankwaso, who played a key role in Yusuf’s emergence as governor, warned that any attempt by political rivals to capitalise on the defection would fail, insisting that the political structure backing Yusuf’s election remained firmly intact.
"The moment Ganjude raises his hand, he has already lost the election. Let him first say we didn’t allow him to govern, we will give him an answer."
The former governor dismissed claims that Yusuf was frustrated or prevented from governing, maintaining that such narratives would be strongly challenged.
His comments come amid growing political tension in Kano State following reports of Yusuf’s defection, which have sparked debates over loyalty, party supremacy, and the future of the NNPP in the state.
Kwankwaso’s remarks signal a deepening rift within Kano’s political landscape, as alignments ahead of future elections continue to shift.
The Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, was formally received into the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday by top-ranking party leaders, including a former National Chairman of the APC and ex-governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Yusuf was welcomed at the Coronation Hall of the Kano Government House by Ganduje; the Deputy President of the Senate and Senator representing Kano South, Barau Jibrin; the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Ata; as well as other senior APC stakeholders from across the state.
The high-profile reception marked Yusuf’s official return to the ruling party, coming days after his resignation from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) amid escalating internal crises within the party.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly had defected from the NNPP to the APC.
In a video seen by SaharaReporters, the lawmakers announced their defection, signalling a broader realignment within the state’s political structure ahead of Yusuf’s move.
SaharaReporters had also reported last Friday that the governor formally resigned his NNPP membership, alongside twenty-one members of the State Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and forty-four Local Government chairmen across Kano State.
Yusuf’s resignation was conveyed through a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Diso-Chiranchi Ward of the NNPP in Gwale Local Government Area, in which he outlined the reasons for his decision.
The letter reads: “I write with a deep sense of gratitude to formally notify the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) of my decision to resign my membership of the party, with effect from Sunday, 25 January 2026.
"I remain sincerely appreciative of the opportunity given to me by the party, its leadership, and members across Kano State to be part of its political journey since 2022, as well as the support, goodwill, and cooperation extended to me during my time in the party."