By Ayomide Otitoju
Barely 24 hours after announcing his resignation from the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has relieved his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Mr. Sunusi Surajo, of his appointment, further intensifying the political upheaval in the state.
Surajo, a former chairman of Madobi Local Government Area and a key figure within the Kwankwasiyya political movement, has been replaced by an aide who previously served under former Kano State Governor and ex-national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje. The development is widely viewed as a signal of Governor Yusuf’s shifting political alignment.
The governor’s spokesperson, Mr. Sanusi Bature Dawakin-Tofa, confirmed the removal in a social media post on Sunday, though no official reason was given for Surajo’s dismissal.
Sources at the Government House said the decision is part of a broader political recalibration following Yusuf’s exit from the NNPP, a party he accused of internal instability and protracted leadership crises.
In his resignation letter addressed to the chairman of the Diso-Chiranchi Ward in Gwale Local Government Area, the governor said his decision was taken in the interest of Kano residents, citing what he described as persistent internal disputes within the party.
“The NNPP has been engulfed by internal disagreements and legal battles that continue to undermine its unity across the country,” Yusuf said. “These issues have weakened cohesion and distracted the party from its responsibility to the people.”
The governor’s departure has triggered a wave of defections, with 44 local government chairmen, 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, and eight federal lawmakers publicly pledging their loyalty to him. However, the developments have also fractured the Kwankwasiyya movement, leaving the state’s political leadership sharply divided.
A senior political source disclosed that the Deputy Governor, Mr. Aminu Abdulssalam Gwarzo, has opted to remain aligned with Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and will not defect alongside the governor. Observers have noted the deputy governor’s absence from three consecutive official engagements at the Government House, alongside reports of his attendance at meetings held at Kwankwaso’s residence along Miller Road in Kano.
Meanwhile, several commissioners and senior government officials have declined to leave the NNPP. They include the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Yusuf Kofar-Mata; Special Duties, Mr. Nasiru Garo; Sports, Mr. Mustapha Kwankwaso; Internal Security, AVM Ibrahim Umar (retd.); Humanitarian Affairs, Mr. Adamu Kibiya; and Women Affairs, Mrs. Amina Abdullahi.
Addressing supporters in Kano, Senator Kwankwaso urged his followers to brace for a tough political contest ahead of the 2027 general elections, calling for loyalty and ideological commitment despite the defections.
“Raising funds for a movement is not easy, but we are proud of your loyalty,” he said. “We need people who are committed to progressive ideals, not those who can be swayed by money.”
He warned against sacrificing principles for personal gain, stressing that perseverance remains central to the movement’s struggle.
