In a move that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s political landscape, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf arrived at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday afternoon for a private meeting with President Bola Tinubu.
Dressed in his iconic flowing white babanriga and the unmistakable red Kwankwasiyya cap, the Governor was seen entering the President’s office at 4:13 pm. The visit marks Yusuf’s first high-level engagement with the President since returning from Abu Dhabi, occurring at a moment when rumors of his exit from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) are reaching a fever pitch.
While speculation of a move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been rife since early January, the transition has reportedly hit several roadblocks. Sources close to the negotiations suggest the Governor is playing hardball, seeking a “documented assurance” for an automatic 2027 gubernatorial ticket—a demand the APC leadership has so far resisted.
Beyond the ticket, Yusuf is allegedly pushing for significant influence within the Federal Government, including:
– The power to nominate a Minister to represent Kano State.
– The authority to clear out current federal appointees in Kano and replace them with his loyalists.
These demands have reportedly created a rift with Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who is widely considered a frontrunner for the 2027 governorship under the APC banner.
The political cost of this potential move is already being felt within the Governor’s inner circle. His godfather and NNPP National Leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has been vocal in his disapproval, describing the plan as an act of betrayal and a move that will carry consequences in the next election cycle.
The stakes are so high that Hon. Mustapha Kwankwaso (the Senator’s son) and other cabinet members loyal to the Kwankwasiyya movement have reportedly prepared their resignation letters, ready to quit the moment the Governor officially dons the APC broom.
Despite the friction, the Presidency appears to be keeping the door wide open. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, a prominent APC chieftain, recently claimed in a viral video that President Tinubu specifically ordered the suspension of the party’s e-registration exercise in Kano. According to Doguwa, the President wants to ensure that Governor Yusuf is the very first person to be registered in the state.
This warm reception mirrors the glowing birthday tribute the President sent to Yusuf on January 5. In that statement, Tinubu was effusive in his praise for the Governor’s administrative track record: “Governor Yusuf’s leadership experience, particularly his years as commissioner managing strategic portfolios in Kano State, may have prepared him for the kind of infrastructural changes now witnessed in the state,” the President said.
“He has embarked on urban renewal programmes, building bridges and road networks, including five-kilometre roads in each local government in the state,” he added.
Tinubu further lauded the Governor’s focus on human capital, noting: “I also understood that his declaration of emergency in education has engendered a marked improvement in the performance of Kano students in NECO exams.”
The President concluded by describing Kano as “the bastion of progressive politics in the North,” adding that Yusuf’s tenure “re-echoes the commitment to grassroots development and ameliorating the plight of the Talakawas as championed by the late Mallam Aminu Kano.”
As the meeting at Aso Rock progresses, many observers believe a decision must be reached soon to avoid the looming threat of litigation. Reports suggest that should the governor delay further, sensitive information regarding ongoing court issues could be released, potentially freezing any chance of a smooth political transition.
For now, the eyes of the nation remain on Abuja, waiting to see if the man in the red cap will finally trade it for the APC’s emblem.
