Members of the Kano State House of Assembly have thrown their weight behind Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s reported plan to defect from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), warning that remaining in the party amid deepening legal troubles could endanger the mandate freely given by the electorate.
The lawmakers, who spoke with one voice on Thursday, argued that the unresolved leadership crisis and multiple court cases plaguing the NNPP pose a serious threat to the political future of the governor and other elected officials in the state.
Drawing lessons from the political upheaval in Zamfara State, where internal party disputes led to the loss of electoral victories despite winning at the polls, the Assembly said Kano must not repeat what it described as a costly legal miscalculation.
Speaking to journalists, the Majority Leader of the House, Lawan Hussaini, said the Assembly could not afford to ignore the warning signs already evident within the NNPP.
“There is an existing court judgement that recognises a particular faction of the NNPP,” Hussaini said. “We cannot continue to remain in the party and risk a repeat of the legal disaster that happened in Zamfara State.”
According to him, the party is currently riddled with rival leadership claims and ongoing litigation, creating uncertainty over its legal standing and the validity of its nominations ahead of future elections.
Hussaini noted that the Zamfara experience remains a painful reminder of how unresolved internal disputes can override the will of the voters, stressing that electoral success offers little protection when party structures are weakened by legal battles.
He warned that the continued factional struggles within the NNPP could, if left unresolved, lead to judicial outcomes capable of nullifying victories, even after successful elections.
On this basis, the Majority Leader disclosed that the Assembly supports ongoing consultations urging Governor Yusuf and the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to consider exiting the NNPP for what he described as a more stable and legally secure political platform, including the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Hussaini added that discussions were already underway with the governor and key political stakeholders to agree on what he termed a “strategic and timely” defection, aimed at safeguarding the mandate entrusted to them by the people of Kano State.
The development signals a potentially significant political realignment in Kano, as lawmakers prioritise institutional stability and legal certainty over party loyalty in a rapidly shifting political landscape.
