‘Kwankwaso Has Not Agreed Or Permitted Anyone To Move To APC’ – NNPP Publicity Secretary, Johnson

The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, has addressed rumours of internal defections from the party’s Kwankwasiyya movement.

Abia Radio News reports that NNPP is currently grappling with an internal crisis, centred on its stronghold of Kano State, where reports suggest Governor Abba Yusuf may defect to the All Progressives Congress  (APC) in early January 2026.

However, during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, Johnson said Yusuf has not mentioned his defection to the National Working Committee or the National Executive Committee.

The NNPP chieftain further dismissed speculation that the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has agreed to the Kano people and Governor Yusuf moving to the APC.

Johnson noted that the tensions should not have arisen with the general election just a year away and warned that moving to the APC would not guarantee political success.

He said, “The governor hasn’t said anything to the National Working Committee or the National Executive Committee. Indeed, he (Governor Yusuf) was at the convention we held two weeks ago. But one of his aides said clearly that the people of Kano had agreed that (Rabiu) Kwankwaso and the governor should move to the APC.

“Of course, Senator Kwankwaso hasn’t agreed to such; he hasn’t told anyone, and he hasn’t permitted anyone in his group to move to the APC or any party for that matter. We’ve seen certain things occurring in the state, and it’s become very troubling and disturbing because we are a big, happy family. This is very unfortunate.

“To the best of their knowledge, they think they’ve made the right move. Even if they move, what guarantees do they have that he (Governor Yusuf) will get the nomination in an APC where Barau, the Deputy Senate President, wants to contest governorship, and where Ganduje’s faction also has aspirants?

“He will be joining as a weakened person because the Kwankwasiyya movement as a whole will not be moving with him.”