Galadima: Yusuf’s Defection Is A Direct Betrayal Of Kwankwaso

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has strongly criticised Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a move motivated by personal survival rather than the welfare of Kano residents.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Tuesday, the Secretary of the NNPP Board of Trustees, Buba Galadima, said Yusuf’s decision to align with former governor Abdullahi Ganduje—an enduring rival of NNPP leader Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso—amounted to a betrayal of the movement that brought him to power.

When asked whether the defection benefited Kano, Galadima responded bluntly that it was purely about Yusuf’s own interests.

“Personal, personal, personal. Not Kano people. Not peace in Kano,” he said, insisting the governor’s action was unacceptable.

Galadima argued that the defection would have been easier to understand if Yusuf had joined another party, but moving specifically to the APC, he said, showed desperation.

“Had he moved to another platform other than APC, I could have said he moved well. But in this case, it is only a matter of survival,” he stated.

He described the development as a painful and historic betrayal, admitting it deeply affected him emotionally.

“If I could shed tears over anything, this touched me beyond expression,” he said.

Galadima recalled the sacrifices made by NNPP leaders to secure Yusuf’s victory in the governorship race, noting that both he and Kwankwaso worked tirelessly for days without rest.

“There is nothing under the sun we did not do for Abba Kabir Yusuf to prevail,” he said.

He also credited former President Muhammadu Buhari with ensuring Yusuf’s eventual victory after prolonged legal battles.

“The man who took our victory in 2019 and gave it to Ganduje later stood firm and said, ‘This boy won his election. Give him his victory,’” Galadima explained.

Accusing Yusuf of abandoning the principles that once sustained him, Galadima suggested the governor lost faith in the party and instead chose to rely on political power brokers.

“He left what he trusted before and put his faith in human beings,” he said.

Responding to claims that Yusuf had freed himself from Kwankwaso’s influence, Galadima dismissed such narratives as shallow, insisting that while Yusuf showed respect publicly, things were different behind closed doors.

He said the NNPP deliberately remained silent until Yusuf openly announced his departure, adding that the party now enjoys sympathy from Kano citizens.

Galadima went further to claim that Yusuf has already lost grassroots support, asserting that in a free and fair election, the governor would struggle to secure even five per cent of votes.

He lamented the symbolism of Yusuf appearing alongside Ganduje and other figures he described as products of Kwankwaso’s political school.

Galadima suggested the defection was partly driven by envy of Kwankwaso’s popularity among ordinary people.

“They thought they could destroy him. They cannot,” he said.

He also dismissed the idea that Yusuf’s remarks about rejecting blind loyalty were aimed at Kwankwaso, claiming instead they were directed at his new allies, President Bola Tinubu and Ganduje.

On Yusuf’s loyalty to the NNPP, Galadima was unequivocal.

“I don’t think he was ever NNPP. He was only a beneficiary of the NNPP,” he said, even alleging the governor had been working in APC’s interest while still under the NNPP platform.

Despite losing its only sitting governor, Galadima maintained that the NNPP would survive the setback, insisting the party had risen from nothing before and could do so again.

Turning to national politics, he accused President Tinubu of consolidating power ahead of 2027, questioning why a well-performing leader would need mass defections into his party.

He further alleged that federal agencies were being used to pressure opposition figures and warned that Nigerians would not tolerate election rigging in 2027.

As the interview ended, Galadima expressed frustration over limited airtime, saying he should not be invited if sufficient time is not provided.