An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Abdulmalik Suleiman has asserted that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is now fully in charge of Kano State politics.
He hinged his position on Saturday’s defection of thousands of supporters of other parties to APC.
Suleiman said no fewer than 136,000 defectors joined the ruling party at a mass rally held at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Suleiman said the event was a defining political statement that wrestled Kano for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said, “Yesterday at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano politics spoke with one voice, and that voice belonged to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. With this, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can now sleep easily about Kano votes in 2027.”
He listed the prominent defectors as former Governor Ibrahim Kabiru Gaya, Senator Rufa’i Hanga, former Speaker Isyaku Danja, Senator Mas’ud Doguwa, as well as former commissioners, state and federal lawmakers, and grassroots mobilisers from across the 44 local government areas.
According to him, the fanfare, music, entertainment and sheer excitement that filled the stadium affirmed Yusuf’s leadership as the people’s leader, noting that the crowd was not rented but rather a genuine celebration by the ‘‘talakawas’’, youths, women, and other stakeholders.
Suleiman described Yusuf as an admirable personality who represents peace, selfless leadership and epitomises the fear of God, and as an emerging political enigma who is quiet, silent and resilient in operation.
He also credited the Governor’s lieutenants, Hon. Haruna Umar Doguwa, Hon. Mohammed Yusuf Jamu, and Alhaji Umar Farouk, Hon. Sanusi Bature, Hon. Abdullahi Rogo, and others for building a disciplined political structure behind the Governor.
Suleiman noted that critics had predicted Yusuf would be overshadowed after his historic move from the NNPP to the APC, but said Saturday proved the opposite as Yusuf stood at the centre, receiving, welcoming and directing, with the crowd chanting his name alongside Tinubu’s.
He said by moving with 22 State Assembly members, 9 members of the House of Representatives, 44 local government chairmen and now 136,000 new members, Yusuf has successfully fused his grassroots base with the APC machinery and is now its leader in Kano.
“Governor Yusuf has provided the ladder for Tinubu to clinch Kano through both performance and structure. And now that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is in disarray less than six months to the general election, one can conclude that Gov. Abba has confidently won his second term,” Suleiman added.
