NNPP Tells Governor Abba Yusuf to Resign Membership Before Any Move to APC

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Kano State has told Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf that he is free to leave the party but must first submit a formal resignation before joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The warning comes amid speculation that the governor may defect to the ruling party following his recent closed-door meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Yusuf, who was elected on the NNPP platform in 2023, has faced persistent political crises in the state since assuming office.

Addressing journalists in Kano on Tuesday, NNPP State Chairman, Senator Elmasud Doguwa, said the party would not force the governor to remain if he no longer wished to continue under its platform. However, he stressed that party rules must be respected.

Doguwa said Governor Yusuf remains a registered member of the NNPP and has not officially communicated any intention to resign. According to him, the governor must notify the legally recognised leadership of the party in writing before aligning with another political party.

He warned that defecting without following due process could attract legal consequences, especially in view of existing court judgments and ongoing litigation concerning the party’s leadership.

Doguwa also maintained that the current NNPP leadership in Kano is backed by court rulings and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to uphold and enforce those decisions.

He concluded by reiterating that while political affiliation is a personal choice, it must be exercised in line with the law and the party’s constitution.