Galadima Claims Yusuf Abandoned Kwankwaso Months Before APC Defection

 

Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, reportedly severed ties with his political mentor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, long before his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Buba Galadima, has alleged.

Speaking on the development, Galadima described Yusuf’s alignment with the APC and former Kano governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, as a “historic betrayal” of the political movement that brought him to power.

“He abandoned Kwankwaso just three months after assuming office, even though he continued to publicly treat him with respect,” Galadima said. “What happens behind closed doors is different.”

Galadima dismissed claims that Yusuf’s defection was motivated by the interests of Kano residents, insisting the move was driven by self-preservation.

“Had Governor Yusuf moved from the NNPP to another platform, I could have said he moved well. But joining the APC is purely about survival,” he stated.

Recalling the sacrifices made to secure Yusuf’s governorship, Galadima said, “There is nothing under the sun we did not do for Abba Kabir Yusuf to prevail. For three days, Kwankwaso and I did not sleep. We travelled, struggled, and put everything on the line.”

He also acknowledged the role of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari and the judiciary in Yusuf’s eventual victory after prolonged legal battles.

“The man who took our victory in 2019 and gave it to Ganduje later said, ‘This boy won his election. Give him his victory,’” Galadima noted.

He accused Yusuf of abandoning the principles that sustained him politically, suggesting fear of future electoral defeat influenced his decision to defect. Galadima also argued that Yusuf merely benefited from the NNPP and had lost grassroots support, noting that the party remained largely silent until the governor formally announced his defection.

“Today, we have the sympathy of the people of Kano,” Galadima said, adding that the NNPP would endure despite losing its only governor.