Following a closed-door meeting between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, indications have emerged that the governor is set to formally defect from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Multiple sources familiar with the meeting told Daily Trust that the discussion resolved outstanding political concerns that had earlier slowed the governor’s planned defection, clearing the way for a formal announcement expected within days.
The meeting came amid weeks of intense political speculation in Kano, where Yusuf’s reported intention to join the APC has dominated public discourse and strained his long-standing relationship with former governor and NNPP national leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
According to sources, Yusuf’s ‘hesitation’ in recent weeks was linked to uncertainty over his political future within the APC, particularly assurances regarding his 2027 re-election bid, the fate of his current political structure and the security of his supporters within the ruling party.
Those issues, insiders said, were addressed during the meeting with President Tinubu.
“He may announce it formally tomorrow (Tuesday) or a day after because everything has been resolved,” a source with knowledge of the discussions said. “The president wants him in the APC, and the governor also wants to align with the president.”
Governor Yusuf declined to speak with journalists after leaving the Villa, stating only that he “will be back.”
The meeting reportedly lasted about three hours. The governor arrived at the Presidential Villa at about 4:10pm, dressed in a white gown (babbar riga) and red cap, and departed shortly after 7pm.
Yusuf’s potential defection has been the subject of speculation since late last year, following subtle political signals suggesting a recalibration of his relationship with the APC-led federal government.
Although the governor has publicly maintained silence on the issue, several of his aides and political associates have, in recent months, openly engaged APC leaders both in Kano and Abuja, fuelling expectations of an imminent move.
However, reports last week suggested that the defection plan had encountered obstacles after APC leaders were said to be cautious about offering firm commitments, particularly on the issue of an automatic return ticket in 2027.
That hesitation reportedly forced the governor to slow down, even as defections by some of his supporters at the local government and ward levels gathered pace.
Monday’s meeting with President Tinubu appears to have revived momentum.
Sources said the president personally assured Yusuf of his value to the APC’s political calculations, especially in Kano and the wider North West, where the party lost ground in the 2023 elections.
