Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has formally resigned his membership of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), citing unresolved internal disputes, leadership divisions and ongoing legal challenges that he says have eroded cohesion within the party and threatened its stability at both state and national levels. The resignation marks a significant turning point in Kano’s political landscape as realignments gather pace ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Friday, 23 January 2026, and signed by his spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, Governor Yusuf addressed a letter to the Chairman of the NNPP in Diso-Chiranchi Ward, Gwale Local Government Area, officially notifying the party of his decision to withdraw his membership, effective from 25 January 2026.
“I write with a deep sense of gratitude to formally notify the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) of my decision to resign my membership of the party,” Governor Yusuf wrote, expressing appreciation for the platform and support the party provided him since 2022.
In his resignation letter, the governor acknowledged the role of NNPP’s leadership and members across Kano State in his political journey, noting their goodwill and cooperation during his tenure. However, he emphasised that persistent internal challenges arising from leadership disagreements and ongoing legal processes, many of which remain before the courts for adjudication, have weakened party cohesion and widened divisions among members.
“These disagreements have created deep divisions within the party structure, resulting in cracks that appear increasingly irreconcilable and have generated uncertainty at both state and national levels,” Yusuf said, adding that his decision followed “careful reflection” and was taken in what he believes to be the best interest of the people of Kano State. He stressed that the resignation was made in good faith and without bitterness, reaffirming his commitment to peace, unity and the continued progress of the state.
The governor’s departure from the NNPP is part of a broader political shift in Kano, with 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives and all 44 local government chairmen in the state also resigning from the party, according to a related statement. While details of their future political affiliations have not yet been publicly confirmed, the mass exodus underscores the depth of internal fractures within the NNPP and the growing momentum of realignments ahead of national elections.
Political analysts note that Governor Yusuf’s resignation follows protracted tensions within the NNPP that have simmered since late last year, with leadership disputes and factional disagreements fueling speculation about defections to other parties, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC). Some factional leaders within the NNPP had previously urged the governor to formally resign before pursuing any new political alignment, in line with party rules, a move that was widely interpreted as a precursor to the impending departure.
The Kano State House of Assembly had earlier endorsed Governor Yusuf’s planned realignment, warning that remaining in a party beset by legal and leadership crises could expose the state’s political leadership to avoidable risks. The Assembly’s position reflected concerns that persistent intra-party disputes could hamper effective governance and destabilise the state’s political environment.
Governor Yusuf’s resignation from the NNPP comes amid intensified political activities nationwide, as key actors position themselves and their allies for the 2027 election cycle. In Kano, where political loyalties and affiliations have long played a decisive role in shaping state and national outcomes, the governor’s departure from the party he helped lead since 2022 is expected to reverberate across the region’s political dynamics.
With the formal resignation now complete, attention has turned to where Governor Yusuf and his colleagues will next anchor their political future, and how this latest shift will influence party configurations and electoral strategies in Nigeria’s most populous northern state.
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