A former commissioner in Kano State, Hon. Yusuf Suleiman Dambatta, has said the Kwankwasiyya political movement is nearing a breaking point amid ongoing realignments in the state’s political landscape.
Dambatta, who served under former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso alongside the incumbent Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, said the movement, though once formidable, is now facing what he described as a near-insurmountable challenge.
In an interview with Daily Trust, Dambatta said political movements, like empires, have a lifespan.
“Kwankwaso built a very formidable structure in Kano, particularly between 2010 and 2019. But empires eventually collapse, and that is what we are witnessing within the Kwankwasiyya movement,” he said.
He said the challenges confronting the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Kwankwasiyya movement go beyond routine election-season defections.
“It isn’t just about the NNPP. The party is facing internal crises similar to what we have seen in the PDP and other parties. Kwankwasiyya has entered a complex phase, perhaps its final phase,” Dambatta said.
He noted that the movement would suffer a major blow if Governor Yusuf defects to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“For Kwankwasiyya, that would be a serious setback. Movements survive such moments not by suppressing members but by managing them with wisdom,” he said.
Dambatta criticized Kwankwaso’s leadership style, saying it may no longer be effective.
“Kwankwaso has often governed by force and intimidation. That approach will not serve the movement well at this stage. What is needed now is fairness and renewed ideological clarity,” he said.
On the possibility of Governor Yusuf defecting, Dambatta said the governor had the right to choose a platform that best secures his political future.
“He is a sitting governor seeking a second term. Kwankwaso has already served his two terms and is no longer pursuing the governorship. With the NNPP mired in litigation and internal division, Governor Abba has every right to decide what works best for him,” he said.
Dambatta said history appeared to be repeating itself, drawing parallels with the political fallout between former Governor Abubakar Rimi and the late Malam Aminu Kano in the early 1980s.
“An Abba Yusuf defection would shock many Kwankwasiyya members. I have seen Kwankwaso’s recent unguarded statements on social media, which suggest concern. Loyalty is not static; people change,” he said.
He said Governor Yusuf currently holds a stronger political advantage due to incumbency and the strength of the APC in Kano.
“In the 2023 governorship election, the APC scored close to one million votes. The margin was slim. If Governor Abba moves with even 30 per cent of his supporters, he can win again, even without Kwankwaso’s backing,” Dambatta said.
While acknowledging Kwankwaso’s strong youth following, he said Kano’s cosmopolitan nature limits the dominance of any single political bloc.
On concerns that Governor Yusuf might also lose supporters by defecting, Dambatta said losses were inevitable but manageable.
“He will lose some supporters, yes. But he controls the state apparatus. All 40 House of Assembly members, the 44 local government chairmen, the 484 councillors, and most political appointees are with him. He is joining an already strong platform,” he said.
Commenting on potential clashes of ambition within the APC, Dambatta urged the party to maintain the status quo under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Elective positions should remain with those who currently hold them. Those eyeing governorship or senate seats can be considered for federal appointments. There are enough positions to go around; there is no need for internal conflict,” he said.
