Yusuf, Defectors Mobilise Support for Tinubu, APC in Kano

Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has joined other leaders and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a rally to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The rally which took place at Sani Abacha Stadium Kano was attended by APC leaders, elected officials, recent defectors and supporters, was also used to canvass support for the political realignment in the state.

Yusuf recently defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the APC alongside 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly and nine members of the House of Representatives.

The governor said his decision was aimed at strengthening cooperation between the state and the Federal Government to facilitate development.

Yusuf said political affiliation should not constitute a barrier to good governance, adding that the welfare of the people remained his administration’s priority.

“We are choosing partnership rather than polarisation. Political parties are vehicles; the destination is to bring positive change to the people of Kano,” he said.

He urged his supporters and residents of the state to support the new political direction, saying his administration would continue to prioritise infrastructure, economic opportunities and improved governance.

Some of the defectors who spoke at the rally said they joined the APC to promote political stability and strengthen the relationship between Kano and the Federal Government.

They called on their supporters to work with other APC members and contribute to the development of the state.

The development has altered the political configuration in Kano, with the governor and several state and federal lawmakers now in the APC.

Former APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, welcomed Yusuf into the party and described him as a progressive politician and leader of the APC in Kano.

Yusuf said Kano, because of its population, commercial importance and strategic position in the North-West, needed a strong relationship with the Federal Government.

He urged the people of the state to remain peaceful and united, saying political differences should not affect peaceful coexistence.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Barau Jibrin,  also urged his supporters to work with Yusuf, stressing the need to prioritise the development of Kano.

The rally is part of the ongoing political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections, with the APC seeking to consolidate its position in Kano.