Kano NNPP Turmoil: Kwankwaso’s Son Set to Exit Cabinet as Yusuf’s Defection Looms

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Kano State is witnessing a significant reshuffle in its political landscape as Mustapha Kwankwaso, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports and eldest son of former governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, prepares to step down from his cabinet position. This comes ahead of anticipated moves by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to exit the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Although no formal resignation has been submitted, sources indicate that Mustapha is expected to vacate his office either shortly before or soon after Governor Yusuf makes his party defection official. The governor has yet to publicly confirm his departure, but reports from aides and members of the Kano State House of Assembly suggest the move is motivated by escalating leadership and legal conflicts within the NNPP.

Signs of a Growing Rift

Government insiders say Mustapha Kwankwaso has already cleared his office of personal belongings, following his father’s public opposition to Yusuf’s anticipated defection. Meanwhile, Rabiu Kwankwaso has intensified consultations at his Miller Road residence, gathering members of the Kwankwasiyya movement who remain loyal to the NNPP. To solidify this loyalty, a register has reportedly been opened to document officials and appointees aligned with Kwankwaso.

Several top officials have reaffirmed their allegiance to the former governor. Among them are:

Yusuf Kofar-Mata, Commissioner for Science and Technology
Adamu Aliyu, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs
Ibrahim Umar, Commissioner for Internal Security
Hamza Kachako, Commissioner for Mineral Resources

Additional loyalists include the Head of Service, Abdullahi Musa; Musa Danzaki, Executive Secretary of the Kano Scholarship Board; and Hamisu Dogonnama, Managing Director of Kwari Textile Market.

Political Tensions in the Legislature

The divide has extended into Kano’s legislative bodies. Senator Rufa’i Hanga (Kano Central) and House of Representatives members Mukhtar Yarima, Abdulkarim Ado, and Sani Wakili have sided with the Kwankwaso faction. Meanwhile, some state legislators—including Yusuf Aliyu and Zakariyya Ishaq—remain loyal to Kwankwaso, while the representative from Madobi Local Government Area, the former governor’s home base, was reportedly undecided.

Despite this resistance, Governor Yusuf appears to have secured broad backing. Insiders describe the situation as a “palace coup,” with all 44 local government chairpersons, their deputies, and most ward-level party executives expected to follow him to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Analysis: A Political Realignment in Kano

This development signals a major recalibration of Kano’s political alliances. Governor Yusuf, once seen as Rabiu Kwankwaso’s protégé for nearly four decades, is now charting an independent course. The impending cabinet changes and defections reflect deepening tensions within the NNPP and foreshadow a potentially transformative period for the state’s governance and party politics. Observers note that Kwankwaso’s efforts to consolidate his loyalists may prevent a total collapse of the NNPP’s influence but will likely redefine the state’s political hierarchy.