Former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has reacted strongly to the defection of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, from the party.

Kwankwaso said the governor’s decision to leave the NNPP would come with consequences.

He stated that Yusuf and those who followed him would later regret abandoning the party that brought them to power.

The leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement described the development as surprising and difficult to understand. He said the manner of the governor’s exit raised questions among party members and supporters across the state.

Speaking during an interview, Kwankwaso revealed that many people doubted the authenticity of the defection. Some believed it was part of a political arrangement.

“Many people have come to me saying they believe what happened was part of an arrangement—either between me and him or between me and those around him. Even I, on several occasions, find it hard to believe that events have unfolded the way they did,” Kwankwaso said.

He maintained that time would expose the real outcome of the decision. According to him, political choices always come with long-term effects, and this case will not be different.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday, January 26, 2026. He had earlier announced his resignation from the NNPP on Friday, January 23, 2026.

Yusuf was elected governor in 2023 on the NNPP platform. His victory was largely driven by the influence of Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya political structure in Kano State.

Consequently, the defection has caused tension within the NNPP in Kano. Several party loyalists expressed disappointment over the governor’s move. Some leaders accused Yusuf of betraying the movement that supported his rise to office.