News
Defection move: Kwankwaso, Governor Yusuf, finally part ways as rift deepens
The rift between Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso has nosedived.
In reaction to the governor’s readiness to defect from the NNPP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kwankwaso opened a loyalty register for political office holders to ascertain their allegiance and fidelity to his leadership.
The former governor began taking stock of his loyalists in Kano at the time Yusuf was celebrating his 63rd birthday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
With the governor were top government officials and party chieftains.
Kwakwanso, who shunned the ceremony, was busy in his Kano residence with “engagement meetings” with NNPP stakeholders, particularly members of the Kwakwansiyya Movement.
A source said moves and counter-moves by Yusuf and Kwankwaso have polarised the party and divided members of the NNPP in the National Assembly.
The governor has already secured the support of the 40-member House of Assembly, led by Speaker Jibril Isma’il Falgore, and all the 44 local government chairmen.
However, NNPP federal legislators have not openly indicated their willingness to defect to the APC along with the governor.
There are 21 House of Representatives from Kano state, out of which 13 are in NNPP.
Sources said Yusuf and Kwankwaso have polarized the NNPP federal lawmakers over the defection disagreement.
Out of the 13 NNPP representatives, Umar Mukhtari Zakari, who represents Tarauni Constituency, has publicly opposed the planned defection.
However, Aliyu Sani Madaki (Dala), Abdulmumin Jibrin (Bebeji/Kiru), Yusuf Rabiu (Sumaila/Takai), and Sani Abdullahi (Karaye/Rogo) have already moved to the APC.
Also, Kabiru Usman, who won a rerun in Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Constituency under the NNPP, and Sagir Ibrahim Koki (Kano Municipal) have defected to APC.
Although the defection was scheduled for Monday (yesterday)it was postponed by the APC national leadership till January 12.
In the earlier arrangement, Vice President Kashim Shettima and the national chairman of the APC Nentawe Yilwatda were billed to receive Yusuf into the party.
Party sources said the event was rescheduled to allow further consultation with the National Assembly lawmakers from the state and key stakeholders who are yet to fully commit to the move.
A close aide of the governor said the governor is yet to officially register at his ward and he has not obtained the APC membership card for formal defection.
The defection is part of a larger political realignment that will enable Yusuf to potentially take on a significant leadership role in the state chapter of the party, and as well seal his bid for the governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 elections.
The move, a strategic decision to strengthen the APC’s position in Kano State, has been rejected by Kwankwaso, who is speculated to be on his way to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in protest.
The sources said Yusuf defection will be a significant blow to the Kwankwaso-led Kwankwasiyya Movement.
The former governor had publicly threatened that no one betrays the Kwankwasiyya movement and goes free.
The disagreement between Yusuf and Kwankwaso led to the sack of Hashimu Dungurawa (a pro-Kwankwaso chieftain) as state chairman of the party.
Yusuf has picked Alhaji Abdullahi Zubairu Abiya as Acting State Chairman.
A Kano State High Court ruling upheld the suspension of the embattled chairman and barred him from acting in that capacity, pending the determination of the suit.
But the national secretariat of the party has described the change in the leadership as a nullity and went ahead to dissolve the entire executive committees at the ward, local government and state levels indefinitely.
The APC is treating Yusuf’s defection move as a major political gain. It has significant implications for Kano State politics and beyond, including stripping the NNPP of its only governorship seat and potentially reducing its influence and viability as a national party.
The defection will bolster APC’s dominance in Kano and enhance its chances in the 2027 general election.
The existing power bloc of the Kano APC, led by former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, had openly expressed their readiness to work with Yusuf.
Ganduje and the APC Chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, have urged him to feel free to join the ruling party.
Yusuf’s much awaited arrival in APC may spark rivalry within the APC. It will ultimately neutralise the chance of Deputy President of the Senate Barau Jibrin who has been aspiring for the ticket, a development that will likely influence negotiations, future alliances and voter alignments in Kano State.
Barau, who represents Kano North, has remained indifferent to the governor’s move, apparently because of his ambition.
Senator Rufai Sani Hanga (Kano Central) remains in the NNPP with Kwankwaso, while Senator Abdurrahman Kawu Sumaila (Kano South) defected from NNPP to APC last year and he is certainly not with Kwankwaso.
Nation
Iran has carried out the execution of two individuals accused of collaborating with Israeli intelligence, according to an official statement from the country’s judiciary.
Authorities said the two men were convicted on charges of espionage linked to Mossad, and were found guilty of working with what officials described as a hostile intelligence network operating within Iran.
According to the judiciary, the suspects had been under investigation for activities considered detrimental to national security.
Their death sentences were subsequently upheld by the country’s Supreme Court prior to being enforced.
The executions were confirmed on April 20, 2026, although officials did not provide specific details regarding the exact time or location.
Iranian authorities stated that the case is part of ongoing efforts to counter and dismantle foreign intelligence operations within its borders.
There has been no independent confirmation of the allegations, and Israeli authorities have not issued any immediate response.
The incident reflects the persistent strain in relations between the two countries, with Iran frequently reporting the uncovering of alleged espionage networks tied to Israeli operatives.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of a new campus of the Police Academy in Erinja, Yewa South Local Government Area in Ogun State.
President Tinubu also approved a special take-off grant of N15billion for the college.
The President’s approval was in fulfilment of the provisions of the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act, 2021, particularly with respect to the expansion of the Police Academy based in Wudil, Kano state, into multiple campuses across the country.
The intervention fund will be sourced from the TetFund 2026 allocation to finance priority infrastructure, academic facilities, student accommodation, and core training assets.
A high-level consultative meeting involving the Minister of Police Affairs, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspector-General of Police and the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) recommended the siting of the new campus in Erinja.
The meeting considered student intake capacity, funding realities, academic quality assurance, and the long-term needs of the Nigerian Police Force, which is currently recruiting more men.
President Tinubu believes the expansion will strengthen institutional governance, modern policing education and national security.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), South West Zone, has disowned a press conference purportedly held in Ibadan on Monday, which claimed that the zone had condemned the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, declared support for Governor Makinde of Oyo State and loyalty to a Turaki-led National Working Committee.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Zonal Publicity Secretary, Akinloye Oyeniyi, described the event as the work of organised impostors who do not represent the party at any level.
“The Zonal Chairman, Engr. Deji Doherty, was away in Abuja attending the 108th meeting of the National Executive Committee of our great party and no zonal officials held any press conference. The claim of an Ibadan press conference is therefore a barefaced lie,” Oyeniyi said.
The statement said those behind the Ibadan gathering do not speak for the party, hold no mandate, and are not recognised by any organ of the PDP from ward to national level.
Oyeniyi further said the illegality of the group was very pronounced, noting that they do not even have a Zonal Vice Chairman, which is very significant for any structure claiming to speak for the PDP South West.
“These are the ones whose agenda was to destabilise the party but they failed. Looking at them, one could see that their group is now a psychiatric ward with no staff. Destabilising elements always end up as wanderers. Karma never forgets, and wickedness by default carries consequences too,” the statement read.
According to Oyeniyi, “these ones slung toboggan, and now the stones are expectedly raining on them, and their current noise and theatrics will not substitute for acceptance by party members or the public.”
The PDP South West said its loyalty to the Abdulrahman-led National Working Committee and the National Leader, His Excellency Nyesom Wike remains unalloyed and also advised the impostors to retrace their steps and rejoin the party through the proper channels, rather than constituting themselves into a nuisance, as no amount of media stunts or paid propaganda will confer any legitimacy on illegitimacy.
He urged the general public, party faithful, and the media to disregard the publication, stating that official communications of the PDP South West Zone would continue to come only through recognised party channels in the zone under the leadership of Engr. Deji Doherty.
Iran executes two men over spying for Israel
Tinubu approves N15bn take off grant for new police academy
PDP South West Disowns Ibadan Press Conference, Calls Organisers Criminal Impostors
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