In Kano politics today, the reigning question is about who controls the structure of the ruling party. Abba Yusuf has answered that question in direct and definite terms: he says the authority rests with him.
Yusuf’s position follows his move into the All Progressives Congress (APC), a shift that immediately changed the balance within the state. For many observers, joining the ruling party at the centre strengthens a governor’s leverage. Yusuf has leaned into that advantage without hesitation.
The challenge comes from Abdullahi Ganduje, who built and managed the party structure in Kano for years. Even without his former national role, Ganduje’s network is still very intact, as evidenced by how party loyalists still look to him for direction, especially on internal decisions.
Yusuf’s argument rests on a basic political principle in Nigeria: incumbency carries weight. As a sitting governor, he controls state machinery, influences appointments, and shapes local alliances. In practical terms, that means leadership of the party within the state.
But when did party structure start to disappear when leadership changed? Ganduje’s camp still holds influence among stakeholders, including figures who determine candidate selection and internal negotiations. This creates a situation where authority exists in two places at once.
The tension is already showing in important decisions, such as who fills strategic positions and who speaks for the party. These are not minor disagreements. They affect how the party prepares for elections and how power is distributed among loyalists.
Yusuf frames his move as a step to stabilise politics in Kano after internal disputes elsewhere. His critics interpret this move differently, seeing a calculated attempt to take control of an existing structure. Both views point to the same reality: control of the party is now contested.
What this means going forward is straightforward. Kano APC is no longer a single bloc with a clear chain of command. Instead, it is a shared space where influence must be negotiated, asserted, and defended.
🚨 BREAKING: Watch the full clip here ➤
