Rising Tensions In NNPP: Party Bigwigs Warn Of Mass Defections, Blame Kwankwaso’s Leadership

The defection, which saw key grassroots mobilizers switch allegiance, was spearheaded by Alhaji Abdullahi Sani Kwami, also known as Dollar, a former vice chairman of Gwarzo Local Government Area.

The move has raised alarms among NNPP leaders, who fear it could jeopardize the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.

According to The PUNCH, Gwarzo is the hometown of Kano’s Deputy Governor, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, a close associate of Kwankwasiyya leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

The defection was officially confirmed in a statement issued by the spokesperson for Burau, Ismail Mudassir. Kwami, accompanied by a delegation of party executives, women leaders, and other key stakeholders, made the switch to APC during a visit to the National Assembly.

In a similar development, a faction of former student leaders, led by Comrade Mohammed Nafiu Danlami, also abandoned the Kwankwasiyya movement. They cited “anti-masses policies” and a “dictatorial leadership style” as their reasons for joining the APC.

Adding momentum to the defections, Abba Kafi Governor, a prominent youth mobilizer in Getso, Gwarzo LGA, led his supporters to join the APC, praising the people-centric initiatives and projects under APC leadership.

Senator Barau Jibrin, a senior APC figure, welcomed the new members, congratulating them for leaving a “mushroom political party” and joining a globally recognized national party where their freedoms are guaranteed. He described the NNPP as a declining force in Kano Central, claiming its presence was weak in several wards and virtually nonexistent in Kano North, with even key NNPP figures in Kano South shifting allegiance to the APC.

For the youth leaders, Jibrin pledged mentorship and guidance, emphasizing the importance of helping young, educated citizens engage meaningfully in politics. He further added, “They don’t belong there. They belong here, where they have the freedom to be whatever they want to be.”