The Political Ramifications Of Abba Yusuf’s Switch To The APC -By Umar Sa’ad Hassan

The safest play for Gov. Abba Yusuf has always been leaving the NNPP, the only thing that mattered was how and with whom.Under President Tinubu we have seen a very skilful intrusion of the 3 main opposition parties with varying degrees of impairment.We all know of Nyesom Wike’s ‘enemy within’ status in the PDP and of course Lamidi Apapa; the man who declared himself Labour Party Chairman after Julius Abure was removed by the Supreme Court and whose first act in office was ordering Peter Obi to withdraw his presidential election petition against President Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 elections.The most seldom talked about of the 3 moves to weaken if not kill the opposition has been that of the NNPP.

A faction led by the founder of the party,Dr. Boniface Aniebonam expelled Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso and suspended Gov. Abba Yusuf.Both were accused of creating their own faction of the party and instead of eventually making it easy for his political foes to disqualify him through the courts in 2027 for winning an invalid NNPP gubernatorial ticket,it was wise for Abba Yusuf to seek another home.What most didn’t expect however was that he would move anywhere without his political god father and in-law; Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Over the past 2 years,he has seized every opportunity to pledge allegiance to the leader of the Kwankwasiyya movement that brought him to power and it was shocking to say the least when rumours started emanating from credible sources months ago that Gov. Yusuf was getting ready to ditch not just the NNPP but also his god father and their political movement for none other than their sworn enemies,the APC.There have been insinuations that Abba’s victory in the Supreme Court in 2023 was thanks to his hiring of President Tinubu’s lawyer,Wole Olanipekun SAN and that a friendship may have been struck but what is not in doubt is that the political dynamics of Kano have been severely jolted making the state the most interesting watch as the next electoral cycle approaches.

As resignations of several appointees of Gov. Yusuf notably commissioners has clearly shown us,his move to the APC will not cripple the Kwankwasiyya movement and while it is good from a political stand point that he has taken with him the majority of elected officials,it is important to also take into consideration the territory he has swam into.Regardless of whatever they may want outsiders to believe,there are 2 factions in the Kano state APC-the Ganduje faction and the Barau Jibrin faction and both exist (no) thanks to President Tinubu.Recent happenings particularly the renaming of Sen.Jibrin’s organization from Barau/Tinubu to Barau/Tinubu/Abba indicate Gov. Yusuf is with the Barau Jibrin faction whose existence is widely attributed to President Tinubu’s need to have someone other than Ganduje as the face of Kano APC.

Anyone who has closely observed Ganduje’s relationship with Tinubu from the onset can’t help but feel Ganduje has to harbour some resentment.Asides of course the large money sunk into the Tinubu campaign,another reason attributable to his electoral success in 2023 was early preparation.As early as 2020,he had already set his machinery in motion and his very first public ally was then Kano state Governor,Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who was branded a guaranteed pick for Vice-President.Tinubu’s body language towards Ganduje changed en route the APC primaries with some party insiders citing a strong dissatisfaction with how his campaign funds were spent and when Tinubu won with Kashim Shettima as his running mate,people thought Ganduje would be made Minister.Tinubu not only over-looked him but as we have also come to know with the viral ‘Who is Maryam Shetty’ video,chose someone without his knowledge talk more approval.

That choice had to be rescinded for someone else only after public outcry about Miss Shetty’s ties to Former VP, Yomi Osinbajo who had run in the APC primary against Tinubu.Ganduje was eventually handed the less glamorous APC Chairmanship position which as we all know,he was forced to resign from.Ganduje may be a lot of things but he has never been one to pick a fight from a disadvantageous position.When Kwankwaso was leaving office in 2015 and there were stories of him preferring another successor over Ganduje who was his long time friend and ally,Ganduje did not try to cause any trouble.He sucked it all in and when Kwankwaso chose him perhaps due to how he would appear to his supporters,he waited to assume office before unleashing hell on him.Ganduje is loyal and patient while being taken along but it is as clear as day that unless by a divine change of circumstances,he cannot dream of big things with the Tinubu administration.

There is a possibility that he may choose to express his bitterness by not supporting Gov. Yusuf who is sure to become Tinubu’s candidate for 2027; a spot initially believed to have been reserved for Sen. Barau Jibrin.But then the issue of Abba not being able to count on Ganduje’s whole-hearted support aside,there is also the very glaring fact that he is now toe to toe with his mentor,Rabiu Kwankwaso whom without a scintilla of doubt,is Kano’s most loved politician since the late Aminu Kano.

The loss of members of his political movement to Abba and the financial muscle they would provide will not worry him as it would an ordinary politician because his biggest asset has always been the love of the masses.He served them well in office and can bank on their support whenever he requires it.As he has proven in the 2 elections his candidate has come up against an incumbent since he left office,the average man on the streets loves anything associated with him and not even money can change that.

Being in the APC and with a majority of the noteworthy members of the NNPP does not guarantee Abba Yusuf victory in 2027 or any political elevation for that matter.It is doubtful if he has the political skill-set required to navigate the diverse interests and big egos in his new party and though he has performed creditably well in office,it quite frankly as things stand,still isn’t enough to sway the masses from their patron saint; Engr. Rabiu Kwankwaso.There are interesting times ahead.

Umar Sa’ad Hassan is based in Kano

Twitter: @Alaye_100
Email: uhassan077@gmail.com