The National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has described Governor Abba Yusuf’s resignation from the party as “a cold betrayal of a sacred trust.”
Kwankwaso made the remarks while addressing supporters at his Miller Road residence in Kano. He declared January 23 as “World Betrayal Day,” inspired by social media reactions to Yusuf’s departure.
“None caught my attention more than one who posted, suggesting that we declare January 23 annually as World Betrayal Day. Therefore, as the leader and grand patron of this movement, I hereby declare that I fully support the declaration,” Kwankwaso said.
He added that the day would henceforth be marked with special events to remind members of the incident.
No Crisis in NNPP
In a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson, the NNPP dismissed Governor Yusuf’s claim of an irredeemable crisis in the party as baseless.
“We deeply regret that Governor Abba, a man entrusted by the people of Kano State on the strength of his decades of unwavering loyalty and dedicated service to the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has now chosen to betray that sacred trust,” the party said.
The NNPP noted that Yusuf attended its national convention on December 20, 2025, which was supervised by INEC, and the party had recently won supplementary elections in Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa constituencies.
“The assertion he made of an irredeemable crisis in the party is therefore baseless and an afterthought,” the statement added.
Historical Parallels
The NNPP compared Yusuf’s resignation to Alhaji Abubakar Rimi’s defection from the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) to the Nigerian People’s Party (NPP) in the 1980s.
According to the party, Rimi defected with nearly all local government chairpersons, 120 of 126 state assembly members, and most Kano representatives in the National Assembly.
Yet, in the 1983 gubernatorial election, Rimi was defeated by Mallam Aliyu Sabo Bakin Zuwo of the PRP. Of the 120 defected assembly members, only one was re-elected.
“This outcome should serve as a sobering lesson to any politician contemplating the path of disloyalty,” NNPP said.
The party urged the 1,019,602 voters who supported Yusuf’s election to remain calm and avoid division. “History has consistently shown that those who trade loyalty for expediency, and honour for deceit, rarely escape the judgment of the people,” it added.
APC Welcomes Yusuf
Meanwhile, the Kano State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown open its doors to Governor Yusuf who will formally join the ruling party soon.
APC State Secretary Ibrahim Zakari Sarina said: “He is welcome. That is all we are going to say for now.”
Although Yusuf has not officially declared for APC, Sarina said the party’s doors remain open. “Even though he didn’t specifically declare for APC, hopefully, he will soon come to APC. Our doors are open, and we welcome him,” he added.
Sarina confirmed that the party has reserved a special electronic registration number for Yusuf. “We have started e-registration and have reserved the 001-registration number for the governor at his Chiranci-Diso ward,” he said.
With Yusuf reportedly moving alongside a large number of elected officials and appointees, APC described the development as a major boost for the party.
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