Chidinma Iroegbu
The national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has raised serious concerns over what he described as mounting political pressure on elected officials and political appointees serving under Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Kwankwaso alleged that several government officials were being compelled to publicly declare allegiance to political factions amid growing speculation that Governor Yusuf may be planning to defect from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The former Kano State governor made the allegations in a video message circulated on social media by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan. In the footage, Kwankwaso claimed that affected officials were instructed to openly identify with either the Kwankwassiya political movement or the Gandujiyya bloc associated with the APC.
According to him, those allegedly targeted include members of the Kano State House of Assembly, local government chairmen, councillors, secretaries and other political appointees. Kwankwaso said many of them had privately contacted him to express distress over the pressure being exerted on them.
He linked the situation to heightened political tension following widespread reports suggesting that Governor Yusuf was weighing a possible move to the APC—a development that has fuelled uncertainty within the NNPP in the state.
Kwankwaso disclosed that, in a bid to ease the hardship faced by the affected officials, he advised them to comply with the directives temporarily in order to avoid further intimidation or personal strain.
“On January 13, 2026, shortly after I returned to Kano, I received reports that were both encouraging and deeply troubling,” he said. “These included instructions allegedly given to chairmen, councillors, secretaries and other appointees to declare loyalty to either Kwankwassiya or Gandujiyya.”
He further revealed that some officials had complained of emotional and physical stress linked to the situation, adding that a few reportedly required medical attention as a result.
“I consulted widely with key stakeholders on how to reduce the pressure being placed on them,” Kwankwaso stated. “Those who felt compelled to append their signatures or make declarations were advised to do so, simply to ease the burden imposed on them.”
Despite the developments, Kwankwaso insisted that the political contest in Kano ahead of the 2027 general elections remained wide open. He maintained that the NNPP still enjoys strong grassroots support across the state and dismissed suggestions that the party’s influence was waning.
He also expressed gratitude to NNPP supporters and party caucus members who, he said, were subjected to pressure, inducements and political intimidation during the period.
In a related remark, Kwankwaso thanked Governor Yusuf for recently acknowledging the achievements of his administration while criticising the handling of abandoned projects by the immediate past government.
Political observers believe tensions within the NNPP have escalated sharply amid reports of Yusuf’s possible defection to the APC, a move that is said to have strained his relationship with Kwankwaso, widely regarded as his political mentor and key benefactor.