Former Kano State governor and national leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has given his approval for the planned defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and other elected officials of the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Kwankwaso disclosed his decision in a brief video message posted on Facebook on Tuesday and circulated by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan. The announcement has triggered widespread reactions across Kano State’s political landscape.

The endorsement marks a sharp reversal of Kwankwaso’s earlier stance, having previously rejected the idea of defection and accused Governor Yusuf and other NNPP office holders of betraying the mandate entrusted to them by Kano voters.

However, speaking in Hausa in the video, Kwankwaso explained that his change of position was informed by the need to respect the political choices of party members and to reduce escalating internal tensions within the NNPP in the state.

Analysts suggest the move reflects an effort by the former governor to navigate an ongoing political realignment, opting to adapt to emerging realities in order to retain relevance and influence in Kano’s evolving political equation.