Betrayal of Trust: NNPP Blasts Gov Yusuf Over Exit, Rejects Claims of Internal Crisis

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has strongly condemned the resignation of Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, describing his departure from the party as a betrayal of the mandate given to him by the electorate. The party rejected claims that internal crises forced the governor’s decision, insisting that the NNPP remains stable and cohesive.

Governor Yusuf formally resigned his membership of the NNPP on Friday, a move widely seen as a precursor to his expected alignment with the All Progressives Congress (APC). The development has sparked intense political debate in Kano State and beyond, given the circumstances under which the governor was elected and the political movement that supported his rise to power.

NNPP Condemns Defection, Describes Exit as Betrayal

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the NNPP, in a statement issued on Saturday, expressed what it described as “deep pain and disappointment” over Governor Yusuf’s resignation. The statement, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, faulted the governor’s decision and questioned the justification provided for his exit.

According to the NNPP, Governor Yusuf was elected on the strength of the Kwankwasiyya political movement and the overwhelming trust of the Kano electorate. The party argued that abandoning the platform that facilitated his victory amounted to a betrayal of the people’s mandate.

The NNPP further warned that the governor’s defection could potentially reverse political and developmental gains recorded in Kano State. It cautioned that such a move might return the state to political forces previously rejected by voters at the polls.

Party Rejects Claims of Internal Crisis

Responding to the governor’s assertion that the NNPP was engulfed in unresolved internal crises, the party dismissed the claim as unfounded and misleading. The NWC insisted that the allegation was made after the fact and did not reflect the true state of affairs within the party.

The NNPP highlighted its recent organisational achievements as evidence of internal stability. It noted that the party successfully conducted congresses from the ward level to the national convention held on 20 December 2025, an exercise supervised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and attended by Governor Yusuf himself.

In addition, the party referenced its victories in two supplementary legislative elections conducted in August 2025, arguing that these successes contradicted any suggestion of an irredeemable internal crisis.

Historical Parallels and Call for Calm

Drawing from political history, the NNPP compared Governor Yusuf’s defection to that of former Kano State Governor, Abubakar Rimi, in the early 1980s. The party recalled that the move ultimately resulted in electoral rejection, noting that most lawmakers who defected alongside Rimi failed to secure re-election.

Despite its strong criticism, the NNPP urged calm among its supporters and the general public. It appealed to the over one million voters who supported Governor Yusuf’s election, as well as residents of Kano State, to remain peaceful and restrained.

The party concluded by expressing confidence that the people of Kano would remain committed to principled leadership and the ideals that informed their electoral choices, reaffirming its belief in the judgment of the electorate