Abba Yusuf Meets Tinubu After Stalled Defection to APC
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House,
Abuja, in a development that has intensified speculation about his political future and a possible shift in
party allegiance.
Governor Yusuf arrived at the president’s office at about 4:13 p.m., dressed in his signature white
flowing outfit and red Kwankwasiyya cap.
The meeting, the first publicly known engagement between the governor and President Tinubu since the
president’s return from the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, comes amid ongoing discussions about
a potential defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress
(APC).
Reports indicate that earlier talks on the defection began in early January but have stalled over
unresolved issues.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the APC leadership has been reluctant to provide a
written guarantee for an automatic governorship ticket for Yusuf ahead of the 2027 general elections, a
key demand acting as a sticking point in the talks. The delay in finalising terms has increased political
uncertainty in Kano and within the APC itself.
The governor’s possible move has generated sharp reactions from political actors. Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso, former Kano governor and national leader of the NNPP, widely seen as Yusuf’s political
mentor, has criticised the defection plan, describing it as a betrayal of the party’s principles and warning
of potential political consequences for Yusuf in the 2027 polls.
As of publication, neither the Presidency nor the Kano State Government has issued an official
statement detailing the purpose or outcome of the meeting.
Governor Yusuf also declined comment to journalists on the specifics of his discussion with President
Tinubu. Observers note the timing of the visit and stalled negotiations may reflect broader strategic calculations ahead of the 2027 election cycle, with both national and state-level political dynamics influencing the outcome.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
