Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, has defended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s recent defection from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), dismissing accusations of betrayal and attributing the move to deep-seated internal crises within the NNPP that rendered the governor’s political future uncertain.
In an exclusive interview, Waiya argued that the NNPP has been plagued by factionalism and legal battles, particularly over the party’s logo, which he said made continued membership untenable.
“Initially, the logo of the NNPP was a basket of fruits,” Waiya explained. “Along the line, there was an attempt to change the logo to a book, which the founders felt breached agreements because they were not consulted. They approached the court, and about two courts ruled against the book logo.”
He highlighted the existence of rival factions: one led by the party’s founder, Mr. Boniface Aniebonam, loyal to the original fruit basket logo, and another associated with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (often referred to as the Kwankwasiyya movement). “You have the NNPP faction of Boniface and NNPP faction of Kwankwasiyya,” he said.
Waiya pointed out that even the fruit basket faction had at one point claimed to have suspended Governor Yusuf—the party’s sole sitting governor—underscoring the severity of the divisions. “You should know that there is a serious crisis,” he stated. “How would you remain in such a party where there is this kind of internal crisis? We knew we didn’t have a party. We knew it didn’t exist.”
He referenced earlier defections by figures like Ali Madaki and Alhassan Rurum, who aligned with the original logo faction before leaving the NNPP entirely, as evidence of the long-standing rift that began with the logo dispute.
Addressing Kwankwaso’s awareness of these issues, Waiya affirmed that the former Kano governor and NNPP leader was fully informed, including of relevant court rulings. “He is aware of all these, including all court rulings, among others,” he said. “How do you expect someone like the governor to remain in that kind of party? If you continue to remain there, what is your fate? In the near future, the party won’t be legally recognised.”
Waiya also addressed the status of Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam, who has not followed Yusuf to the APC. Describing the governor and deputy as a joint ticket, he suggested the deputy should “honourably step down” if unwilling to align with the principal.
On counter-claims that the mandate belongs to the NNPP and calls for Yusuf to relinquish power, Waiya countered: “The platform of NNPP was used to win the election, but it was the people who voted for the governor. And he is working for the people. His loyalty is first to the people of Kano State and not anybody.”
He rejected the “betrayal” label, noting that defections are common in Nigerian politics and that Kwankwaso himself had defected to the APC while serving as governor in the past. “If this is perceived to be betrayal, what do you call other defections? This is not the first of its kind,” Waiya said.
He cited practical benefits from the move, including improved federal relations that led to approval for the long-delayed metropolitan rail service by President Bola Tinubu, better coordination with security agencies, and contributions from figures like Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin. “We prevailed on Kwankwaso and the governor to lead us to APC because NNPP doesn’t have any future,” he added. “Kano, as an opposition state, was isolated.”
Waiya highlighted a symbolic moment of reconciliation, referencing photos of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje embracing Yusuf. “Since the creation of Kano State, there has never been such a moment. All the leaders have put their differences aside by resolving to work for the progress of Kano.”
The commissioner emphasized that describing the defection as betrayal is unfair, especially from politicians with similar histories of party switches.
