From Kwankwasiyya to APC: Yusuf’s Return and the Shifting Sands of Power in Kano Politics

 

By Oluwatosin Babatunde

 

As Kano braces for 2027, Governor Abba Yusuf’s defection from the NNPP back to the APC is more than a personal move it is a reflection of history, ambition, and the fragile nature of political loyalty in northern Nigeria.

Watching Governor Abba Yusuf return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last week, I was struck by a mixture of admiration and unease. Admiration, because such a move requires political courage and careful calculation. Unease, because it underscores once again the fragility of party loyalty in Kano State a fragility that has defined the state’s politics for decades.

Those of us who have followed Kano closely cannot forget the early years of the Kwankwasiyya movement. Rabiu Kwankwaso and Abdullahi Ganduje were once inseparable allies, building a grassroots political machine that reshaped northern politics. Yet, as history shows, ambition, ideological differences, and personal rivalry fractured that partnership. Ganduje’s eventual drift toward APC and Kwankwaso’s isolation set the stage for recurring realignments. Yusuf’s defection, in this light, feels less like a singular event and more like history repeating itself: strategic realignment trumping loyalty or sentiment.

The scale of Yusuf’s return is remarkable. He was accompanied by 22 state lawmakers, eight federal legislators, and all 44 local government chairmen. Ganduje’s public assurance of support for a second-term bid is a vivid demonstration of APC’s consolidation of power. From a purely political lens, this is a masterstroke. From a citizen’s perspective, however, it raises questions. Where does this leave the voter who believed in a vision, an ideology, or even a simple promise of continuity? Party defection, no matter how pragmatic, has consequences for accountability.

Yet, I cannot dismiss Yusuf’s reasoning. He frames his decision as a choice of progress over personal desire aligning Kano with the Federal Government, fostering development, and breaking away from decades of isolationist politics. Pragmatism, in Nigerian governance, often matters more than ideology. If this alignment accelerates infrastructure, education, and healthcare initiatives, perhaps the move serves a greater good. But the risk is clear: a culture where loyalty is negotiable erodes trust, reduces ideological clarity, and turns politics into a game of convenience.

The exodus of elected officials alongside Yusuf is telling. It is a reminder that party allegiance in Kano and in Nigeria is frequently transactional. It is also a reminder of Ganduje’s enduring role as a political broker, leveraging historical rivalries and reconciliations to consolidate APC’s influence. This may secure short-term victories, but for long-term democratic development, it is a cautionary tale. Citizens must ask whether governance, policy, and service delivery are being prioritized over political theatrics.

Personally, I see Yusuf’s defection as both pragmatic and instructive. It demonstrates the necessity of strategic thinking in governance, but also highlights a recurring challenge: how to build a political culture where ideas matter as much as ambition, and where loyalty to citizens outweighs loyalty to party leaders. Kano’s electorate deserves more than shifting allegiances; it deserves continuity, consistency, and accountability.

As 2027 approaches, this realignment will likely shape the political trajectory of northern Nigeria. But beyond the optics and calculations, the real test will be whether this move produces tangible development and strengthens democratic norms or whether it simply reinforces a pattern of politics driven by expediency and personal calculation. For me, that is the question we must all watch closely.

 

Oluwatosin Babatunde is a journalist,a Social Commentator and advocate of good governance. He writes on politics, democracy, and accountability in Nigeria. He can be reached via babatosin247@gmail.com.