News
2027 Showdown: Kano Politics Shaken as Yusuf Defects to APC
The Peoples Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress and Labour Party have strongly criticised the All Progressives Congress following the defection of the Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the ruling party, insisting that the development will not alter the political reality ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the governor’s decision to join the APC on Monday, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Ini Ememobong, and his ADC counterpart, Bolaji Abdullahi, said in separate interviews with The PUNCH that the defection reflects moral failure rather than political strength, stressing that moves driven by self-interest would not translate into votes for the ruling party.
Also, the Interim National Chairman of the faction, Senator Nenadi Usman, warned against confusing elite defections with widespread popular support, emphasising that opposition parties will continue to play a significant role ahead of the upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, welcomed the Kano State governor into the party, describing the defection as a boost for the APC and a validation of its commitment to delivering democracy’s dividends to Nigerians.
Despite the support of a former Kano State governor and leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Governor Yusuf announced his resignation from the NNPP on Friday, following weeks of speculation and rising political tension in the state.
In recent months, several PDP governors have defected to the APC, including Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Peter Mbah of Enugu, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State and, most recently, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.
Beyond the governors, several influential political figures—such as National Assembly members, state legislators, former governors, ex-ministers, and other party leaders have also left the PDP for the APC.
President Bola Tinubu and other APC leaders have consistently rejected claims that the ruling party aims to establish a one-party state following the defection of the governors, maintaining that the APC remains inclusive and open to all Nigerians.
Speaking on Yusuf’s resignation, the NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Oladipo Johnson, in a statement on Friday, described the move as a betrayal of the Kano electorate and a blow to the Kwankwasiyya Movement that the governor once led.
He added that history shows that those who trade loyalty for convenience and integrity for deception rarely escape the judgment of the people.
NNPP stated, “We deeply regret that Governor Abba, a man entrusted by the people of Kano State on the strength of his decades of unwavering loyalty and dedicated service to the Kwankwasiyya Movement, has now chosen to betray that sacred trust. By this action, he risks returning the state to the very forces that have long opposed its progress and the aspirations of its people.
“It is noteworthy that our party, the NNPP, had recently conducted congresses for its leadership from the ward to the national convention, held on 20th December 2025, which the governor himself was present at, and INEC had supervised. The party had also participated in and won two supplementary elections for Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa constituencies, respectively held in August 2025, about three months ago. The assertion he made of an irredeemable crisis in the party is therefore baseless and an afterthought.
“This is not the first time such a betrayal has occurred in the political history of Kano. In the early 1980s, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi defected from the People’s Redemption Party to the Nigerian People’s Party, taking with him the vast majority of elected officials—including nearly all local government chairmen and councillors, 120 out of 126 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, and most Kano representatives in the National Assembly.
“Yet, the electorate delivered a resounding verdict: In the 1983 gubernatorial election, Rimi was humiliatingly defeated by Mallam Aliyu Sabo Bakin Zuwo of the PRP, finishing second. Even more telling, of the 120 state assembly members who joined Rimi’s defection, only one was re-elected—an outcome that should serve as a sobering lesson to any politician contemplating the path of disloyalty.”
The party called on its members and the people of Kano State to remain calm and avoid discord, emphasising that the loyalty of Kano’s citizens to principled leadership will ultimately triumph.
Despite objections from the NNPP, Yusuf is scheduled to officially join the APC today, marking a major shift in the political landscape of Kano State, the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, confirmed in a statement released on Sunday.
The statement highlighted that Governor Yusuf initially joined the APC in 2014 to contest the party’s primary for the Kano Central Senatorial seat, a position he yielded to Kwankwaso.
The Kano State governor is set to officially register as a member of the APC in Kano, alongside 22 members of the State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and all 44 local government chairmen.
He is also expected to inaugurate the APC’s e-registration exercise in the state.
Speaking on the significance of the registration exercise, Yusuf stated, “This is not just a political move; it is a step to ensure that governance remains people-centred and that our developmental agenda reaches every corner of Kano State.”
On the broader implications of his return, he added, “Our focus is on building unity, strengthening political cooperation, and ensuring that the people benefit from effective governance, irrespective of party affiliations.”
Reflecting on his earlier years in the APC, the governor remarked, “I am returning to a party I know, a platform where experience meets structure, and where we can collectively pursue progress for Kano State.”
In a related development, former Kano State Governor and ex-APC National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, who is currently abroad, is expected to return today.
A former Chief of Staff to Ganduje, Mohammed Garba, revealed on Sunday that he had travelled to London but would be back in Nigeria on Monday.
“He is presently in London and will return to the country tomorrow, Monday, ” Garba said.
Garba further stated that it is highly likely the former Kano State governor might head straight to Kano upon arrival to officially welcome the defecting governor.
“We are not yet certain, but there is the possibility that he may head straight to Kano to receive the governor,” he added.
Reacting, the PDP National Publicity Secretary accused Yusuf and other defecting governors of betraying their electoral mandate.
In an interview, Ememobong insisted that the APC would face defeat in 2027 despite the recent wave of defections.
He stated, “The troubling part is that this is not how the system is supposed to work. It does not address the issue of people who were elected, nor does it speak to the promises that were made. There are moral questions involved. A social contract exists between elected officials and the people, and that contract is entered into on the basis of a political party.
“Once elected on that platform, it is morally wrong to abandon it midway. If you intend to contest another election, you should wait until the end of your tenure and then contest on another platform. Alternatively, you should vacate the office and allow the party on whose platform you were elected to retain the mandate, especially when the party you are joining was a fierce opponent.’’
Continuing, he noted, “It is shocking that people now suffer from selective amnesia. After going through an election that was widely described as a political war, with all that transpired known to everyone, they simply take the fruits of that victory and hand them over to the APC, which was their main contender. All of this speaks to the moral deficiency of many political leaders, despite attempts by some to justify it.
“This will not count as an advantage for the ruling party in 2027. As I have said before, this does not diminish any political party. Electoral strength is determined only during elections, not by the defection of governors. Kano, for instance, remains an NNPP state until the next election.
“A governor may defect or plan to defect, but that does not change the political complexion of the state. If you look at the 2023 electoral map, it clearly shows that elections are contests decided by voters.
“This sudden push for defections is a sign of APC cowardice, not political strength. Presidential elections are not won by forcing people to defect or by making the electorate suffer.
“The people did not defect along with these governors or others who have joined the APC. The ruling party has failed, and Nigerians who have not defected and will not defect will vote the APC out. The Kano State governor and other defecting governors, who are holding mandates belonging to other parties, cannot save the ruling party.”
The ADC publicity secretary stated that governors defecting to the APC are seeking personal protection rather than serving the people, adding that failed governors will not be able to deliver their states to the party in the 2027 elections.
Abdullahi stated, “Well, obviously, we do not doubt that he is joining for the same reason other governors have joined: to seek protection. They all know that the easiest way to secure a second term is by joining the ruling party. They believe that is where they will get a free ride into a second term.
‘’They also believe they are answering the call of the APC—that whoever joins their party, no matter how sinful he is, will have his sins forgiven. That is why they are joining. They are not joining because they believe what the ruling party is doing to their people is right, or because they care about the people. They do not care about the people; they only care about themselves. So we are not surprised.
“It is not an advantage for APC, because when governors defect, some of them have already failed their people. And joining the ruling party does not mean the people are joining them. We have evidence of this from the last election. In Delta State, the governor belonged to one party, yet another party won the election. The same thing happened in Edo, and the same in Lagos, as a matter of fact. So, the situation is not as bad as it is being portrayed. We do not see this as any real advantage for the ruling party.
“If elections are conducted freely and fairly in any of these states, most of these governors will realise that their approval ratings among their people are actually below 20 per cent. They know exactly why they are doing what they are doing. So even within the APC, defeat awaits them all, because of the zero performance of the governors and President Bola Tinubu.”
The Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry Enugu, , has offered prayers for , praying for God’s favour, protection, and victory as the state approaches the coming elections.
Speaking during a church gathering, Mbaka declared that Governor Mbah would succeed, expressing confidence that God, whom he said had begun a great work through the governor, would bring it to completion.
“It shall be well with Peter Mbah; may the favour of God be with him. We back him with our prayers. The Adoration family throws our prayers around him, that he will succeed, in the name of Jesus. May God grant him the power of victory at the end of the whole election,” Mbaka said.
The cleric further expressed hope that Mbah’s leadership would bring joy to the Igbo people, the people of Enugu State, and the Church, adding that the Igbo economy could witness greater advancement under his administration.
According to Mbaka, the progress recorded so far gives hope that greater achievements lie ahead, stressing that God would perfect the work already begun.
His remarks come as political activities continue to gather momentum ahead of the forthcoming elections.
ENUGU — Governor Peter Mbah has directed the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (ESEMA) to provide immediate relief materials and other palliative support to two families displaced by the fire that razed a two-storey building at No. 22 Church Road, Asata, Enugu, on Saturday.
The governor’s directive followed reports by Everydaynewsngr that the inferno destroyed two flats and consumed household property, valuables, and important documents belonging to the affected families, leaving them homeless.
The General Manager of ESEMA is expected to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate the distribution of emergency relief items to ease the hardship faced by the victims while further interventions are considered.
Residents of the area welcomed the governor’s swift response, describing it as a demonstration of compassion and responsible leadership at a difficult time for the affected families.
One of the victims, an employee of a higher institution in Enugu State who is said to be approaching retirement, had lamented that the fire wiped out decades of savings and destroyed all his household belongings, including vital documents and certificates.
No lives were lost in the incident, while the cause of the fire is yet to be determined. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the outbreak as affected families begin the difficult task of rebuilding their lives.
The state government urged residents to remain safety conscious and report fire emergencies promptly to relevant agencies to minimise damage and loss of property.
By Our Reporter
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s real estate industry, alongside Golden Land Estate Ventures Limited, have called for urgent reforms to strengthen professionalism, transparency, and investor confidence in the sector.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued on Monday in Enugu following the company’s 2026 Mid-Year Seminar/Luncheon, held on Friday, July 3, at Wendy’s Place. The seminar, themed “Next-Level Real Estate Practices,” brought together real estate developers, chief executive officers, realtors, marketers, investors, and other stakeholders from the South-East to examine emerging industry trends, challenges, and practical strategies for sustainable growth.
According to the communiqué, participants unanimously adopted several resolutions after extensive deliberations.
Among the key resolutions was a call for stronger government action against the multiple sale of land. Participants urged the Federal, State, and Local Governments to strengthen land administration policies and impose stringent sanctions on communities and individuals involved in the fraudulent sale of the same parcel of land to multiple buyers.
They noted that such practices continue to erode investor confidence, fuel land-related litigation, and discourage genuine investment in the real estate sector.
The stakeholders also stressed the need to promote professionalism and healthy competition within the industry. They maintained that competition should be driven by integrity, innovation, quality service delivery, and professionalism rather than unhealthy rivalry, misinformation, or actions capable of damaging the reputation of fellow practitioners.
They further encouraged industry leaders to embrace collaboration as a means of promoting collective growth and enhancing public confidence in the sector.
The communiqué also emphasised the importance of honesty and transparency in dealings with clients. Participants urged real estate practitioners to refrain from making false claims, exaggerating property values, misrepresenting estate locations or approvals, or giving unrealistic assurances merely to secure transactions.
They insisted that prospective buyers should be provided with accurate, verifiable, and complete information before making investment decisions.
On service delivery, the seminar called on real estate developers and chief executives to establish effective internal controls to eliminate the overselling or double allocation of plots. Developers were also urged to ensure prompt allocation of purchased lands and timely issuance of all necessary documentation.
According to the communiqué, efficient service delivery is critical to sustaining customer trust and improving the credibility of the industry.
The participants also called on government agencies, industry regulators, professional bodies, community leaders, developers, and practitioners to work together in building a transparent, accountable, and investment-friendly real estate environment that protects property buyers and supports sustainable national development.
Golden Land Estate Ventures Limited reaffirmed its commitment to promoting ethical business practices, professional excellence, continuous capacity development, and responsible real estate investment in Nigeria.
The communiqué was signed by Comrade Damian Ogudike and Mr. Ikechukwu Eze, directors of Golden Land Estate Ventures Limited, on behalf of the company’s board. It was also drafted and endorsed by the seminar’s resource persons, Mrs. Amaka Dim of Exotic Landlady Estate and Miss Blessing Anene of BuildWise Solution Centre Estate.
By Our Correspondent
ENUGU — Two families were left homeless on Saturday after a fire destroyed two flats in a two-storey building located at No. 22 Church Road, Asata, in Enugu metropolis.
The fire, which started at about 10 a.m., reportedly broke out after the occupants of the affected upper-floor flats had left for their daily activities.
Although the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained as of the time of filing this report, eyewitness Tony Iroji said the inferno completely destroyed household items and other valuables in the affected apartments.
One of the victims, who returned home while the building was engulfed in flames, reportedly collapsed after seeing the extent of the damage. He was revived by sympathisers at the scene.
The victim, said to be an employee of one of the higher institutions in Enugu State and nearing retirement, lamented that years of hard work had been wiped out by the incident.
According to him, the fire destroyed all his household property, including important documents and certificates, leaving him with no option but to relocate his family to his ancestral home.
“All I have worked for all these years is gone,” he said in tears.
No life was lost in the incident, but residents appealed to the Enugu State Government, emergency management agencies and public-spirited individuals to come to the aid of the affected families, even as they urged the authorities to investigate the cause of the fire.
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The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the apex students governing body, has issued a four days ultimatum to South African business interests to evacuate Nigeria.
This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu by Comrade Amb. Bestman Okereafor, NANS National Executive Director, Cooperate and Private Sectors Engagement.
The statement said that after the expiration of the ultimatum, South African business interests would face full wrath of the over 43.1 million Nigerian students scattered in the nooks and crannies of the country.
“The attention of the apex students governing body, NANS, has been drawn to continuous attacks, intimidation and subsequent chase of law abiding, peaceful and hardworking Nigerians and other Africans from South Africa.
“As the biggest students body in Africa, we are giving South African business interests four days to evacuate our beloved country, Nigeria.
“The reason for this action is simple. South Africans cannot continue to oppress and chase our people from their country and expect their businesses to thrive on our soil,” it said.
The statement further noted that immediately after expiration of the ultimatum, NANS will consider picketing South Africa business interests, while further actions will follow.”
It called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the African Union (AU) to take more decisive actions against South Africa for their inimical acts towards other Africans.
“It is on record that Nigeria played a major role in support of South Africa during the apartheid struggle and should never be paid with disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment,” it added.
It would be recalled that xenophobic attack by South Africans on other Africans for some months had led to Nigerians being physically assaulted, embarrassed, intimidated, injured and some gruesomely murdered.
Several Nigeria business interests and business premises, owned by law abiding Nigerians in South Africa, had been completely burnt down or destroyed by rampaging South Africans without any justification.
The alleged perpetrators of these crimes had earlier given Nigerians and other Africans an ultimatum of June 30 to leave South Africa.
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had in recent weeks airlifted hundreds of Nigerians, who are willing to leave the unfriendly country and her people, free of charge back to Nigeria.
However, some of those, who returned to Nigeria recently, left South Africa barely with the cloth they put on, losing savings, valuables and businesses they set up or acquired after many years.
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