Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has said his defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a strategic decision aimed at preventing political instability in the state.
Yusuf also declared that the former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, has no authority to issue him directives, insisting that he remains the leader of the APC in Kano State.
The governor stated this while responding to criticisms trailing his defection from the NNPP to the APC, saying his decision was informed by internal crises within his former party.
According to him, the move was necessary to avert a wider political crisis that could have affected millions of residents in the state.
“We acted early to avoid a crisis that would have affected millions in Kano. Today, there is calm, and the truth is evident,” he said.
Yusuf dismissed allegations that he betrayed the Kwankwasiyya Movement, arguing that concerns over the direction of the party were ignored despite being raised by stakeholders.
He further questioned accusations of disloyalty, noting that some individuals had also left the movement without consultation, which he described as equally questionable.
The governor also challenged critics over the leadership structure of the APC in Kano, prompting his supporters to affirm his position as the party’s leader in the state.
“Is it betrayal or progress that I moved from being alone in NNPP to joining over 31 governors in APC?” he asked.
Yusuf maintained that his political realignment represents progress rather than regression, adding that it has strengthened his influence and capacity to deliver for Kano people.
While acknowledging a relationship of mutual respect with Ganduje, the governor stressed that he remains independent in his leadership decisions.
“What exists between me and Ganduje is mutual respect, but he cannot give me instructions because I am the leader,” Yusuf stated.
