The New Nigeria Peoples Party has expressed confidence that it will win the Kano governorship election in 2027, even if Governor Abba Yusuf defects to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Speculation has intensified in recent days over the governor’s possible exit from the NNPP, following his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, which sparked renewed discussions about a planned defection.
However, NNPP chieftain Ladipo Johnson said the party remains undeterred, insisting it has built strong political structures in Kano capable of delivering victory in the next election cycle.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Johnson recalled the party’s past electoral performances in the state.
“In 2019, without a sitting governor or members of the House of Assembly, etc, we believe we won Kano, but yes, INEC said it was inconclusive, and later on Ganduje won a re-election. In 2023, same position. We went up against the APC, and well, His Excellency Abba Kabir Yusuf knows that he won the elections,” he said.
He added that the NNPP achieved its 2023 victory without holding key political offices at the time.
“NNPP won the elections, won most of the seats, and we did this without having anyone in situ, any officials in situ, no councillors, nothing.
“We were able to win Kano, and by God’s special grace, in 2027, the same thing will happen whether or not he has left us or whether he’s with us. And that sounds slightly arrogant. I’m not being arrogant. I’m just saying it’s politics, and I believe that we will be able to win Kano,” Johnson said.
Governor Yusuf’s visit to President Tinubu on Monday had reignited claims that he was preparing to leave the NNPP for the APC.
But his spokesperson, Sunisu Bature, dismissed the defection rumours, explaining that the closed-door meeting was aimed at briefing the president on governance issues in Kano.
According to Bature, the governor discussed his administration’s plans and challenges, including security concerns.
“Governor Yusuf informed President Tinubu about the recent tragic killing of a housewife and her children, stressing the need for decisive federal support to strengthen security operations and protect innocent citizens,” he said.
Yusuf won the Kano governorship election in 2023 on the platform of the NNPP, defeating APC candidate Yusuf Gawuna.
In recent months, reports of his possible defection have grown, alongside indications of a strained relationship between the governor and the NNPP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
