Abba Yusuf, the governor of Kano State, on Monday met with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, fuelling speculation over his political future and a possible shift in party allegiance.
Yusuf arrived at the president’s office at about 4:13 pm, dressed in his trademark white flowing attire and red Kwankwasiyya cap. The meeting is his first publicly known engagement with Tinubu since the president returned from the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The visit comes at a sensitive moment in Kano politics, as reports continue to circulate about Yusuf’s planned defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Talks around the move have reportedly dragged on for weeks, despite expectations earlier this month that the switch was imminent.
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According to sources familiar with the negotiations, discussions hit a stumbling block after APC leaders declined to give Yusuf a written assurance guaranteeing him an automatic governorship ticket for the 2027 elections. The lack of such a commitment is said to have slowed progress and introduced fresh uncertainty into the talks.
The possibility of Yusuf joining the APC has already drawn sharp reactions. Rabiu Kwankwaso, a former Kano governor and Yusuf’s long-time political mentor, has publicly criticised the move, describing it as a betrayal. He has also warned that Yusuf could pay a political price in the 2027 polls if he defects.
