Kano Speaker, 21 Other Lawmakers Resign from NNPP
A major political shake-up has hit Kano State as the Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, Jibril Ismail Falgore, along with 21 other lawmakers, formally resigned their membership from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). The mass resignation follows the earlier decision by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to leave the party amid rising internal tensions.
The development marks one of the most significant defections from the NNPP since Kano became its stronghold after the 2023 elections. The lawmakers who quit include key leadership figures such as the Deputy Speaker Muhammad Bello Butu-Butu and the Majority Leader Lawan Hussain, among others drawn from constituencies across the state.
Governor Leads Political Realignment
Earlier in the week, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf officially announced his resignation from the NNPP, citing unresolved leadership disputes and deepening internal crises within the party. His resignation — communicated in a letter addressed to a local party official — took effect from January 23, 2026, and was confirmed by his spokesperson.
Governor Yusuf expressed appreciation for the NNPP’s support over the years but emphasised that persistent internal disputes and legal challenges had made the party unstable and less effective in advancing the interests of Kano residents.
Political Impact in Kano
The departure of the Speaker and lawmakers increases uncertainty around the NNPP’s standing in Kano, a state where the party built considerable influence under former national leader Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso. Analysts say the mass exit could reshape the political balance in one of Nigeria’s most populous and politically strategic states.
Political observers note that defections of this scale often precede realignments ahead of major elections — especially with the 2027 general elections approaching. Parties such as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could gain momentum from the shifting allegiances.
Next Steps for the NNPP
The NNPP has not yet provided a full response to the wave of resignations, though senior party voices have attempted to clarify internal disagreements over organisational leadership. Some factions within the party argue that the governor’s resignation letter was addressed to a factional arm rather than the officially recognised national leadership, complicating the narrative about the party’s internal structure.
As Kano’s political landscape continues to evolve, the focus is now on how the state assembly will reorganise and whether the resigning lawmakers will align with a new political platform — particularly with the APC — in the run-up to Nigeria’s next electoral cycle.