Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has publicly defended his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), stating that the decision was essential to position the state at the heart of national decision-making and secure a better future for its citizens.
Speaking on Monday at a “grand rally” held at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Yusuf addressed thousands of supporters, framing his exit from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) as a strategic move to unlock accelerated development through stronger ties with the federal government.
The governor, who resigned from the NNPP in January amid internal crises and leadership disputes, emphasized that his political realignment was driven by responsibility rather than personal ambition. He argued that Kano State could no longer afford to be in opposition to the centre.
“It is about placing Kano in a position where it can fully participate in national development and secure a better future for its citizens,” Yusuf declared.
“With the support of our great party and the cooperation of the Federal Government, Kano State is better positioned to move forward with confidence and stability.”
He further pledged his commitment to President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” insisting that the alignment would bring tangible dividends of democracy to the state.
Governor Yusuf was formally received into the APC fold by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Tinubu at the event.
The rally was attended by a host of political heavyweights, including the governors of Jigawa, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Yobe, and Plateau states.
Notably present were the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, and the former National Chairman of the APC and ex-governor of Kano, Abdullahi Ganduje. signaling a potential reconciliation of the state’s fractured political elite.
Nentawe Yilwatda, the current National Chairman of the APC, described the massive turnout at the stadium as a testament to the party’s unity and the people’s belief in President Tinubu’s vision.
