Chidinma Iroegbu
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has further strengthened its political grip on Kano State following the defection of hundreds of members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), in a development that signals shifting alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The mass movement, which took place on Saturday in Doguwa Local Government Area, was led by a member of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who formally received the defectors into the ruling party during an expanded APC membership registration exercise.
Political observers describe the development as a significant boost for the APC in Kano, reflecting growing confidence in the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the federal level and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf in the state, as alignments intensify within the political space.
Doguwa, who represents the Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, oversaw the electronic registration of the new members, including several prominent NNPP figures and grassroots leaders, before leading them to a rally where mobilisation for the second-term ambition of President Tinubu and Governor Yusuf was unveiled.
Among the high-profile defectors were the Kano State Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, as well as other senior political office holders and party leaders from Doguwa Local Government Area. They were joined by former NNPP executives, ward leaders and party faithful who pledged allegiance to the APC.
Addressing supporters at the event, Doguwa said the decision to defect was collectively taken in the interest of political stability, unity and development, adding that the new entrants had resolved to work harmoniously to strengthen the APC at both the state and national levels.
He disclosed that the defection also included the Chairman of Doguwa Local Government Area, Abdul Rashid Doguwa, members of the local government executive and legislative councils, and NNPP members currently serving within the Kano State administration.
The development comes against the backdrop of Governor Yusuf’s recent decision to align with the APC following consultations with President Tinubu, a move that has continued to generate reactions across the political divide. While the ruling party has welcomed the realignment as a step towards inclusive governance, the NNPP’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has criticised the move, describing it as a breach of party loyalty.
With the latest wave of defections, the APC appears poised to consolidate its influence in Kano State, as political actors recalibrate their strategies in the run-up to the next electoral cycle.