Former Kano State Governor and national leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused the Kano State government of pressuring chairmen, councillors, secretaries and other political office holders under Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to sign up and join the APC, a situation he said has created widespread tension and stress across the state.
Kwankwaso, the presidential candidate of the NNPP in the 2023 general elections, made the allegation in a viral video posted by his media aide, Saifullahi Hassan, on Tuesday evening.
He spoke about the emotional and psychological strain being experienced by many members of the NNPP over the planned defection to the APC.
In the video, he claimed that the state government introduced a system that compelled local government executives and political appointees to openly declare their political allegiance.
“Chairmen, councillors, secretaries and other office holders were given papers and asked to write their names to show whether they support Kwankwasiyya or Gandujiya,’’ Kwankwaso said.
“This is something that any well-meaning resident of Kano State would not feel comfortable with.’’
He explained that the development had led to serious distress among many officials.
“Since this issue started, people have been facing tension and stress. Many chairmen called me. Some councillors who could speak with me explained the situation they were facing.
“Other political appointees, including members of the State Assembly, also reached out to me,” he said.
According to him, the pressure affected elected and appointees differently.
“Some of them could not sleep. Some were deeply confused. Some were even placed on drips in hospitals,” Kwankwaso added.
He said the situation prompted him to consult widely in order to reduce the pressure on those affected, noting that insisting on a hard position at the time could have worsened their condition.
“That is why we agreed that all chairmen, councillors, supervisory councillors and anyone who was asked to sign should go ahead and sign. We have no problem with that,” he said.
Kwankwaso stressed that the decision should not be linked to future elections, noting that the time for such considerations had not yet come.
“2027 is not yet here. We pray that Allah spares our lives to reach that time. Our supporters are everywhere; we know them and they know themselves,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the decision would help ease tensions in Kano State, particularly among those he said were being subjected to pressure.
Reflecting on past political events, Kwankwaso recalled the 2015 political transition, alleging that disloyalty at the time led to prolonged hardship for his supporters.
“We looked at history and remembered what happened in 2015, when our supporters suffered for eight years due to betrayal,” he said.
He, however, commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, saying the governor had recently acknowledged the achievements of the Kwankwasiyya administration while highlighting actions of the immediate past government that, according to him, hindered development in the state.
The video has since generated reactions across Kano State, with supporters and critics offering differing interpretations of Kwankwaso’s remarks and the prevailing political atmosphere.
Recalls that the rift between Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s supporters and that of Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf came into public domain over the speculated planned defection of the governor to APC.
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