Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has formally resigned from the New Nigeria People’s Party NNPP, alongside a significant number of elected officials across the state, citing deepening internal divisions and unresolved leadership disputes within the party.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Tofa, who confirmed that Yusuf’s resignation takes immediate effect from Friday, January 23, 2026.
According to the statement, the Governor conveyed his decision in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Diso Chiranchi Ward of the NNPP in Gwale Local Government Area, formally notifying the party of his withdrawal after more than three years of active political engagement under its platform.
“I write with a deep sense of gratitude to formally notify the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party of my decision to resign my membership of the party, with effect from Friday, 23rd January 2026,” Governor Yusuf stated in the letter.
He expressed appreciation to the NNPP for offering him the platform to pursue his political career since 2022 and acknowledged the support and goodwill he received from the party’s leadership and members across Kano State.
However, the Governor noted that recent developments within the party had made it increasingly difficult to sustain unity and effective political coordination. He pointed to persistent leadership disagreements and prolonged legal battles, many of which are currently before the courts, as key factors undermining internal cohesion.
“In recent times, the party has been confronted with persistent internal challenges arising from leadership disagreements and ongoing legal processes, many of which are presently before the courts for judicial determination,” Yusuf said.
According to him, the unresolved disputes have resulted in growing disenfranchisement among party members and widened divisions within the party structure, creating uncertainty at both state and national levels.
“The growing disenfranchisement among party members has created deep divisions within the party structure, resulting in cracks that appear increasingly irreconcilable and have generated uncertainty at both state and national levels,” he added.
Governor Yusuf explained that his decision followed careful reflection and was guided primarily by what he described as the overriding interest of Kano State and its people.
“After careful reflection, and without prejudice to the party’s capacity to resolve its internal challenges, I have come to the conclusion that my resignation is in the best interest of the people of Kano State,” he stated.
He stressed that the decision was taken in good faith and without bitterness, reaffirming his commitment to peace, unity, and the continued development of Kano State.
The statement further disclosed that the Governor’s resignation was announced alongside that of 21 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight members of the House of Representatives, and 44 local government chairmen across the state, marking one of the most significant political realignments in Kano in recent years.
The mass exit underscores the depth of dissatisfaction within the party’s ranks in the state and is expected to have far-reaching implications for Kano’s political landscape ahead of future electoral cycles.
Meanwhile, the Ward Secretary of NNPP Diso Chiranchi, Kabiru Zubairu, acknowledged receipt of the Governor’s resignation letter and commended Yusuf for his stewardship while in office.
Zubairu praised the Governor’s performance in critical sectors including infrastructure development, urban renewal, healthcare delivery, education, and economic empowerment initiatives.
“I wish to concur with His Excellency on the lingering crisis in our party. Though we are trying our best to contain it, we have no option than to accept the resignation of one of the most performing Governors produced by the NNPP,” Zubairu said.
Governor Yusuf’s political move comes only days after he held a closed door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, a development that had earlier sparked speculation about his future political direction and possible realignment at the national level.
While no official announcement has been made regarding his next political destination, observers believe the Governor’s resignation, combined with the exit of several elected officials, signals a major shift that could reshape political alliances in Kano State and beyond in the coming weeks.
