Major opposition parties have brushed off the defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stating the move will not reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Labour Party each responded critically to Monday’s announcement, framing the governor’s exit as a sign of personal ambition rather than ideological shift or popular mandate.
In separate interviews, PDP National Publicity Secretary Ini Ememobong and his ADC counterpart, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the defection as a moral failure for both the governor and the APC.
“This reflects a failure of character, not a gain in political strength,” Ememobong stated. “Movements driven by self-preservation do not automatically translate to electoral support.”
Bolaji Abdullahi echoed the sentiment, noting, “Defections motivated by convenience do not win elections. Voters are not swayed by elite migrations but by performance and principles.”
The Labour Party’s Interim National Chairman, Senator Nenadi Usman, warned against conflating high-level defections with widespread popularity. “Elite movement is not mass movement. Opposition voices and structures remain strong and relevant,” she affirmed.
In contrast, APC Director of Publicity Bala Ibrahim welcomed Yusuf into the party, describing his entry as a boost and an endorsement of the APC’s governance record. “Governor Yusuf’s decision reinforces our party’s commitment to delivering democracy’s dividends,” he stated.
Yusuf’s resignation on Friday came after weeks of political tension in Kano and despite the backing of former governor and Kwankwasiyya Movement leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.
