Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf met with President Bola Tinubu at the State House on Monday, amidst speculation about his possible defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, is the first known engagement between the two leaders since President Tinubu’s return from the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Details of the meeting have not been disclosed, but it is believed to be connected to Governor Yusuf’s reported plans to defect to the APC, a move that has been delayed since earlier this month. Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano and Yusuf’s political mentor, has publicly criticized the potential defection, describing it as an act of betrayal.
“The governor’s planned defection is a betrayal of the party’s ideals,” Kwankwaso said, adding that such a decision could have political consequences for Yusuf in the 2027 elections.
The meeting between Tinubu and Yusuf is seen as a significant development in Kano politics, with implications for the state’s political landscape and the NNPP’s future.
