Opposition parties fault the Abba Yusuf defection to APC, saying elite moves will not decide Nigeria’s 2027 elections
Abba Kabir Yusuf, Governor of Kano State, on Monday in Kano formally defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party to the All Progressives Congress, triggering sharp criticism from major opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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The Peoples Democratic Party, African Democratic Congress and Labour Party described the move as a moral failure rather than a political gain for the ruling party.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the Abba Yusuf defection to APC would not alter voter behaviour or electoral outcomes.
He argued that governors elected on opposition platforms lack the moral authority to transfer mandates earned through party loyalty.
Ememobong insisted Kano State remains an NNPP stronghold until voters decide otherwise at the polls.
The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said defecting governors often seek personal protection, not public interest.
He warned that poor performance records would follow such leaders into the ruling party.
Abdullahi added that past elections showed governors could not always deliver their states, even when aligned with the centre.
The Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Usman, cautioned against mistaking elite defections for popular support.
She stressed that opposition parties would still shape the political contest in 2027.
Meanwhile, the APC welcomed the development, describing it as a powerful validation of its governance agenda.
The APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said Yusuf’s return reflected confidence in the party’s democratic ideals.
He described the move as a homecoming and a boost to APC’s expanding national base.
Yusuf resigned from the NNPP on Friday after weeks of speculation and mounting political tension in Kano State.
The NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Oladipo Johnson, condemned the decision as a betrayal of Kano voters and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
He recalled historical precedents where mass defections failed to sway electorates, calling it a sobering lesson.
Despite the backlash, Yusuf is scheduled to formally register with the APC alongside state lawmakers and council chairmen.
He said the move aimed to strengthen unity and deliver people-centred governance across Kano State.
Former Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje is expected to return from London to receive Yusuf, underscoring the high-stakes political realignment.
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As parties trade blame and confidence, analysts say the Abba Yusuf defection to APC has intensified debate without settling the 2027 contest.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
