Kano Governor Meets Tinubu Amid Speculation Over APC Defection

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State on Monday met with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

This is coming amid speculation that the governor is searching for a way to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Yusuf was seen heading into the President’s office at about 4:13 p.m., dressed in his trademark white flowing attire and red Kwankwasiyya cap.

The meeting is his first known engagement with President Tinubu since the President’s return from the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

The visit comes against reports that the Kano governor is considering defecting from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Talks around the possible defection, which reportedly began earlier this month, are said to have stalled over unresolved issues.

According to reports, negotiations to defect to the APC stalled following the APC leadership’s reluctance to provide a written assurance guaranteeing Yusuf an automatic governorship ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Yusuf’s defection from the NNPP has been met with stiff criticism from the former Kano State governor and NNPP national leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and other party members and supporters.

The former Kano Governor who until now had protected Yusuf has warned that his political associate’s defection to the APC could have political consequences for Yusuf in the 2027 elections.

There’s no official comment from the presidency concerning the visit as of the time of this report. Yusuf has also not spoken as to what the meeting was all about.