Twist as Ganduje, Gawuna’s loyalists decamp to Kwankwaso’s NNPP

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The opposition All Progressive Congress, APC, again suffered another set back as three Local Government Chairmen defected to the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, in Kano state.

The three defectors are all outgoing Local Government Chairmen elected under the APC two years ago.

The decampees include Ado Tambai-Kwa, Chairman of Dawakin Tofa Local Council, the hometown of the immediate past governor of the state, Abdullahi Ganduje.

In a statement by Sanusi Dawakin-Tofa-, spokesman of the state governor, Abba Yusuf,  Kwa dumped APC for NNPP along his vice, Garba Yahaya and other councillors.

Similarly, the APC gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 general elections, Nasiru Gawuna also lost a strong loyalist and chairman of his Nassarawa Local Government,  council, Auwalu Shuaibu Aramposu, to NNPP.

Another staunch APC stalwart and outgoing Chairman of Garun-Malam Local Government, Mudassiru Aliyu, also dumped the opposition party to the ruling NNPP in the state.

Receiving the decampees and their supporters at an event held at the Coronation Hall, Government House on Saturday, Mr Yusuf applauded their ingenuity to join the NNPP.

Governor Yusuf,  who assured the decampees of fairness and equal treatment in their new party, stressed that NNPP would be magnanimous enough to treat anybody that cross carpet from opposition parties.

The Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to enhance social and economic development through massive investment of resources in the areas of education, health, agriculture, water resources and human empowerment.

According to Governor Yusuf, “ We are lucky that some of you have recognised the pattern of our leadership and decided to join hands with us on a mission to make Kano great. You are highly welcome home,” Mr Yusuf was quoted as saying in the statement.

Peoples Daily observed that the defection of the APC members to NNPP in the state is coming barely two weeks after Ganduje, the national Chairman of the party requested Mr Yusuf and his party structure to dump NNPP and join the APC.

But the statement said “the intrigue, although thoroughly calculated to win the heart of the Kwankwasiyya moment ahead of 2027 presidential ambition, only thought out after Governor Yusuf secured his mandate at the Supreme Court.”