By Comfort Olayinka
In a major political realignment in Kano State, over 1,000 members of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the Kwankwasiyya Movement have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The decampees, who gathered under the banner of Kwankwasiyya One Blood, were formally received into the APC by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, during a ceremony held on Sunday at the Fine Time Events Centre in Kano metropolis.
The group’s leader, Aminu Murtala Minjibir, announced that they had renamed their movement Barau Maliya One Blood, in honour of Senator Barau’s leadership and developmental efforts across Kano State.
“We are more than 1,000 in this hall, with members spread across all 44 local government areas of Kano State. Today marks a new beginning as we align with progress and join the APC,” Minjibir declared. “We appreciate Senator Barau and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their positive impact on the lives of Kano people.”
Addressing the gathering, Senator Barau described the defection as a wise and timely decision, noting that the NNPP had lost touch with grassroots realities in the state.
“The NNPP is a smaller party, confined to a few areas within the Kano metropolis, and its influence is fast declining,” he stated. “By joining the APC — the largest party in Africa — you have chosen the path of growth, development, and opportunity.”
Senator Barau praised President Tinubu for his unwavering support to Kano and the northern region, saying: “Mr. President has never turned down any of our requests for the good of our people. With your support, we will continue to deliver dividends of democracy to every corner of the state.”
The event featured symbolic gestures, including the public discarding of the red caps associated with the Kwankwasiyya Movement, signifying a complete break from the NNPP ideology.
Political observers say the mass defection signals a potential shift in Kano’s political landscape ahead of the next election cycle.
