The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, on Thursday welcomed a wave of high-profile defections from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State, declaring that the ruling party is firmly positioned for victory in the 2027 general elections.
Leading the defectors was Senator Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South, who had earlier announced his exit from the NNPP in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Sumaila was joined by a formidable political contingent, including former Kano State House of Assembly Speaker Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, ex-lawmaker Abdullahi Sani Rogo, Zubairu Hamza Massu, and former commissioners Diggol and Abbas Sani. Also among the defectors was Baffa Bichi, the former Secretary to the State Government.
While addressing party supporters during the welcome ceremony in Abuja, Ganduje was upbeat about the APC’s political trajectory.
“I don’t want to reveal our secret, but what I’m telling you is that APC 2027 is a done deal,” the former Kano governor said.
Senator Sumaila, who emphasized that his defection would not affect his cooperation with the Kano State government, explained that the move was driven by the desire to secure better outcomes for his constituents.
“One of the reasons for leaving was related to the area we come from—how we can provide something truly beneficial for our people,” he said. “Politics is about negotiations, discussions, and seeking the best outcomes for the community.”
He reassured his constituents that ongoing development efforts would not stall, adding that the switch to APC would enhance economic opportunities in the region.
“I have no regrets about leaving NNPP. Everyone is focused on finding the best solutions for their people, and that is what matters most,” he added.
In a related development, APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, likened the party’s current mobilization strategy to the grassroots efforts of Jehovah’s Witnesses, stressing the party’s determination to establish a functional structure at every political level under Ganduje’s leadership.
The defection marks another political shake-up in Kano, a key battleground state ahead of the 2027 polls, and signals growing tension between the APC and NNPP, which currently controls the Kano State Government.
