By Chidinma Ireogbu
A member of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, has led a mass defection of members of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, signalling a major political realignment.
The defection, which took place on Saturday in Doguwa Local Government Area, is being viewed as a significant boost for the ruling APC as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development is also seen by party supporters as an endorsement of the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Doguwa, who represents Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency, coordinated an inclusive APC membership registration exercise during which hundreds of NNPP members formally joined the ruling party.
Several prominent political figures were among the defectors, including the Kano State Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa.
Other senior government officials, local political leaders and party stakeholders from Doguwa Local Government Area also joined the APC during the exercise.
The lawmaker and the new members participated in the APC electronic membership registration before proceeding to a rally held to unveil the campaign for the second term of President Tinubu and Governor Yusuf.
Addressing supporters at the event, Doguwa said the defectors had collectively resolved to work for the unity, stability and progress of the APC at both federal and state levels.
He revealed that the defection included former NNPP party leaders, the Chairman of Doguwa Local Government, Abdul Rashid Doguwa, members of the local government executive and legislative councils, as well as NNPP members serving in the state administration.
The defection followed Governor Yusuf’s recent decision to align with the APC after consultations with President Tinubu, a move welcomed by the ruling party but criticised by the NNPP’s national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who described it as a betrayal of party loyalty.