NNPP Faction: Yusuf Left Over Kwankwaso’s Control, Not Ambition

A faction of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) loyal to the party’s founder, Dr Boniface Aniebonam, has said Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s reported exit from the party was not driven by personal ambition but by alleged attempts by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to suppress and dominate him.

The faction said Yusuf’s decision to leave the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya movement was a response to persistent internal pressures and undue interference, insisting that the governor acted in self-defence rather than betrayal.

In a statement issued by the NNPP’s Deputy National Chairman (North West), Alhaji Sani Danmasani, the group argued that it was Kwankwaso, not Yusuf, who betrayed the trust of the party’s founder. It maintained that the governor made several efforts, in his capacity as the party’s leader in Kano State, to resolve internal disputes but was repeatedly frustrated.

According to the faction, Yusuf’s alleged move to the All Progressives Congress (APC) followed prolonged internal crises which, it claimed, were exacerbated by Kwankwaso’s attempts to exert control over the governor and the administration of Kano State.

The statement said the faction’s position was informed by recent comments made by Engineer Buba Galadima on Yusuf’s reported defection, describing the remarks as bitter and emotionally charged.

“The party has closely observed Engineer Buba Galadima’s recent television appearance and noticed clear signs of distress,” the statement said, adding that Yusuf’s decision had deeply affected both Kwankwaso and Galadima.

The faction advised Kwankwaso and his associates to seek intervention from family members and close allies, including Galadima, warning that the situation could worsen if urgent steps were not taken.

“Their distress is so significant that it could lead to depression if urgent action is not taken. It is likely that these prominent figures are experiencing sleepless nights,” the statement added.

The group further warned that prolonged emotional strain could result in serious mental health challenges, urging restraint in public comments on the matter.

It described accusations that Yusuf betrayed the NNPP by joining the APC as unfair, arguing that Kwankwaso and Galadima had benefited politically from the party without making commensurate sacrifices.

The faction concluded that Yusuf’s decision was an act of self-preservation against what it termed “modern-day servitude” and continued interference in the governance of Kano State, insisting that the governor’s actions should be understood within the context of internal party struggles rather than personal disloyalty.