Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the former governor of Kano State and current national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has directly countered Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s sharp criticism of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s defection.
During a condolence visit to former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau on Friday, February 13, 2026, Ganduje dismissed Kwankwaso’s attempt to label the defection date, January 22, as “World Betrayal Day.” Instead, Ganduje asserted that the APC and the people of Kano would celebrate that day as the governor’s “Independence Day” or “Day of Freedom.”
He framed the move as a release from the political shadow of Kwankwaso; in his words, “If he chooses to regard the day the governor left the NNPP as ‘World Betrayal Day,’ then we will celebrate it as the day the governor gained his freedom.”
The exchange underscores the deepening rift in Kano’s political landscape as the state prepares for a massive pro-APC rally at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Monday, February 16, 2026. While Kwankwaso has characterized the governor’s departure as an act of profound disloyalty, Ganduje extended a hand of brotherhood to his longtime rival, noting, “He considers me an enemy, but I am not his enemy; I am his brother.” Despite this diplomatic overture, Ganduje’s comments were clearly aimed at validating Governor Yusuf’s decision to break away from the Kwankwasiyya movement and align with the federal government.
Preparations for Monday’s grand reception are in full swing, with an 82-member committee working to coordinate the arrival of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and several APC governors. The event is intended to be a symbolic consolidation of power in the Northwest, following Governor Yusuf’s resignation from the NNPP, which he blamed on internal crises that had “engulfed the party.”
While the governor has secured an automatic ticket for 2027 under the APC banner, the political atmosphere remains tense, especially with the deputy governor, Aminu Abdulsalam, choosing to stay loyal to Kwankwaso amidst mounting calls for his resignation.
