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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.”
Hon. Chief Kevin Tobias Chukwu, the NDC candidate for the Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has called on Nigerian leaders to rediscover the country by spending their vacations and leisure time within Nigeria.
Chukwu made the call while reacting to former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s position that Nigerian presidents should spend their vacations in the country.
He said the issue should be viewed beyond partisan politics, arguing that leaders must demonstrate confidence in Nigeria if they expect citizens and investors to do the same.
According to him, frequent foreign vacations by political leaders send the wrong message to Nigerians, particularly when the government continues to encourage citizens to invest in the domestic economy.
“We cannot continue to export our wealth and import our enjoyment while asking Nigerians to believe in Nigeria,” he said.
Chukwu suggested that a president could choose to spend holidays in tourist destinations such as Obudu, Yankari, Lagos, Enugu, Ebonyi, Plateau and Akwa Ibom, among others.
He said such visits would boost local businesses, including hotels, restaurants, transport operators, farmers, artisans and other small businesses, while also increasing public confidence in Nigeria’s tourism potential.
The NDC candidate also highlighted the security implications, saying a president who can comfortably spend time in different parts of the country would send a strong signal about the safety and viability of those areas.
“This should go beyond Peter Obi and beyond party politics. It is about a new culture of leadership,” Chukwu said.
He added: “If we truly want Nigerians to believe in Nigeria, those who lead Nigeria must demonstrate that belief themselves. Charity, they say, begins at home.”
The Director of the Enugu State Fire and Rescue Service, Chief Okwudili Ohaa, has said the swift mobilisation of emergency resources by Governor Peter Mbah led to the rescue of five occupants trapped in a collapsed building in Enugu metropolis.
The uncompleted four-storey building, located along Ogbaru Street, by Alvan Ikokwu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu, collapsed in the early hours of Sunday.
Ohaa told newsmen on Sunday that all five occupants of the building, as confirmed by the security guard on duty, were successfully rescued.
Ohaa
He said four of the occupants were rescued alive and conscious, although they sustained injuries, while the fifth person was rescued unconscious.
Ohaa commended Governor Mbah for his swift mobilisation of emergency response agencies, including the Red Cross, Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Enugu State Ambulance Services, the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Other agencies and organisations at the scene included the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency (ECTDA) and a Chinese construction company, which provided four heavy-duty cranes.
According to Ohaa, the governor alerted him about the incident early Sunday morning, prompting the immediate mobilisation of officers of the Enugu State Fire and Rescue Service to the scene with extrication equipment.
“His Excellency, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, must be commended for also mobilising adequate rescue equipment such as heavy-duty cranes, bulldozers and excavators, which ensured the rescue of the five persons,” he said.
Ohaa explained that rescue officers initially relied on information from the security guard to determine how many people were trapped in the building.
“As rescue officers, what we did was to ask the security man how many people were here. He said there were supposed to be six. One person had left before it happened.
“So, we were able at that initial time to rescue four persons. Out of the four, two sustained minor injuries and they were all rushed to a health facility for proper checks,” he said.
The Chief Fire and Rescue Officer said the fifth person was eventually recovered unconscious and taken to a health facility by the Enugu State Ambulance Services.
The NEMA Information Officer in Enugu, Mr Nnanyelugo Ezeani, also confirmed that five people were rescued.
He said the situation could have been worse because the state government had earlier sealed the construction site.
“One person among the six residing in the collapsed building was not on the site at the time of the incident, while five others were rescued and taken to the hospital,” Ezeani said.
Speaking on the incident, the Executive Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency (ECTDA), Mr Uche Anya, described the developer as one of those who failed to comply with building regulations.
Anya said the ECTDA had earlier taken regulatory action by sealing the site, which was originally approved in 2021.
“This property was approved in 2021 before the advent of this administration. But usually, we have a habit of stocktaking and checking on every construction at every stage.
“When I personally led the team that inspected here, we found out that there were serious integrity issues and non-compliance with their 2021 approval.
“I personally issued the first ‘stop-work order,’ which, due to the violation, resulted in our sealing the place over the last six months outrightly.
“So, I think within the last 30 to 40 days, the representative of the owner, whom they say lives abroad, has been interfacing with us to remedy the situation. This is the process that we are still trying to interface on, and it came down.”
Anya added that he had handed the owner’s representative over to the police to assist with the investigation.
“This is really a very unfortunate situation,” he said.
A four-storey building under construction in Enugu has collapsed, killing at least one person and trapping several construction workers beneath the rubble.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning at the uncompleted structure, reportedly being developed as a hotel, causing panic among residents and passersby.
According to authorities, six workers were believed to have been sleeping inside the building when it collapsed. Four workers have so far been rescued, while the body of one victim has been recovered.
Authorities said one of the six workers reportedly left the site shortly before the collapse, raising hopes that fewer people may be trapped beneath the debris than initially feared.
The rescued workers were taken to the Enugu State Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Red Cross Society, Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority and the police, are participating in the rescue operation.
The cause of the collapse has not yet been established, while rescue efforts continue at the scene.
The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the financial activities and source of wealth of socialite and businessman, Paschal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest.
Ogah, who is Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, made the call on Thursday at a press conference in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The lawmaker said the businessman’s financial dealings should be subjected to scrutiny regardless of his public profile.
“I am urging the EFCC to thoroughly investigate him, investigate his bank accounts, investigate all the things he does,” Ogah said.
He also accused Cubana Chief Priest of undermining President Bola Tinubu’s political fortunes in the South-East ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ogah questioned the socialite’s claim to political influence in Ebonyi State and challenged him to make his membership card of the All Progressives Congress (APC) public.
The lawmaker further criticised recent comments attributed to Cubana Chief Priest on social media in which he reportedly called for the resignation of Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru.
Ogah demanded that the comments be withdrawn and followed by an apology, warning that legal action could be taken if the businessman failed to comply.
“Who is Cubana Chief Priest? What is his address that gives him the impetus to speak against our governor, the most performing governor in Nigeria?” he asked.
According to Ogah, Cubana Chief Priest had no electoral mandate to speak on behalf of Ebonyi State or demand the resignation of its elected governor.
He also questioned the businessman’s political influence, noting that he had previously contested an election in Imo State but failed to secure the party’s primary ticket.
Ogah alleges plot against Nwifuru
The lawmaker further alleged that unnamed political actors were sponsoring campaigns aimed at discrediting the Nwifuru administration and weakening the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
He defended the state’s security architecture, particularly the Commissioner of Police, Hope Okafor, against what he described as an orchestrated campaign for her removal.
Ogah urged the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies to investigate those behind the alleged campaign and determine whether any law had been breached.
“All of us can attest to the peace and security we enjoy in Ebonyi State. The Army, the police, the Civil Defence and the DSS are doing marvellously well in Ebonyi State,” he said.
Lawmaker accuses Otu of mobilising protesters
Ogah also accused another critic of the state government, Charles Otu, of allegedly mobilising people from outside Ebonyi State to participate in a protest against the government in Abuja.
He claimed that some of those involved were presented as Ebonyians despite allegedly coming from other states.
Ogah said his lawyers had previously petitioned the DSS over allegations involving Otu and urged the agency to investigate the matter.
He also challenged Otu to substantiate allegations he allegedly made against him during an appearance on Arise Television.
“My own is that whosoever defaults the law, we take it legally. I cannot mention who I have not known. But when we get there, it is for the security agencies to investigate,” Ogah said.
Ogah lists Nwifuru’s achievements
Defending the Nwifuru administration, Ogah cited the state government’s scholarship programmes, school construction, road projects and other development initiatives as evidence of the governor’s performance.
He said hundreds of Ebonyi indigenes had benefited from postgraduate scholarships in Nigeria and abroad, while roads and schools were being constructed across the state’s 13 local government areas.
Ogah also praised Nwifuru for what he described as political tolerance, saying opposition parties had been allowed to operate freely in the state.
He argued that the people of Ebonyi should determine their political leadership through the ballot rather than through media campaigns and protests.
“Ebonyi people will choose who is their leader. They should stop using the media to castigate the governor,” he said.
Questions Nwifuru’s omission from Tinubu campaign council
The lawmaker also questioned the reported omission of Governor Nwifuru from President Tinubu’s campaign council, describing it as an error that should be corrected.
“How can a governor that has done much in APC not be included in the campaign council? How can a governor that is elected under the APC not be included?” Ogah queried.
He maintained that Nwifuru’s political influence and the APC’s electoral performance in Ebonyi made him an important stakeholder in Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
Ogah warned political actors against using the media to destabilise the state and urged all parties to pursue their grievances through legal and democratic channels.
The lawmaker, who is also the Ebonyi State Coordinator of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), was accompanied by other members of the group at the press conference.
He reiterated his call for security agencies to investigate the various allegations raised and take appropriate action against anyone found to have violated the law.
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has urged youths in Enugu State to disregard the belief that federal government jobs and other opportunities are already allocated before they are advertised.
FCC Executive Chairman, Hulayât Motunrayo Omidiran, gave the charge on Thursday at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, during the Peter Eze Enugu Youth Connect 2026.
Omidiran urged the youths to acquire relevant skills, embrace technology and actively pursue legitimate opportunities, stressing that federal character should promote both equity and merit.
She also warned against fraudulent recruitment schemes and advised applicants to authenticate employment opportunities before applying.
The Enugu State Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, challenged young people to prepare themselves for available opportunities.
Onyia said government could create opportunities, but individuals must develop the capacity to take advantage of them.
The FCC Commissioner representing Enugu State, Peter Ogbonna Eze, said the programme was designed to bridge the information gap preventing young people from accessing federal employment, scholarships, grants, fellowships and training opportunities.
Eze said many youths were discouraged from applying for federal jobs because of the misconception that such positions had already been shared among influential individuals.
He urged them to apply whenever legitimate opportunities were advertised, warning that nobody should pay money to secure a federal government job.
He also disclosed that five participants in the programme would be selected for a full scholarship opportunity.
Eze said the initiative would continue as a platform for connecting Enugu youths with credible opportunities and urged participants to become “ambassadors of opportunity” by sharing useful information with others.
The event brought together youths and stakeholders from across Enugu State to discuss federal representation, employment, education, skills development and other opportunities.
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