The political landscape of Northern Nigeria has been shattered. In a decisive move that redraws the power map, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has formally resigned from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), triggering a mass exodus that threatens to bury the party.

The Governor's resignation, cited as a response to "intractable internal crises," was not a solitary act. In a coordinated display of loyalty, 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, eight Federal Representatives, and all 44 Local Government Chairmen have also tendered their resignations, effectively stripping the NNPP of its governance structure in the state.

"I Am Not For Sale"

The move strikes a direct blow to the NNPP's national leader and former presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso. Speaking from his Miller Road residence, a defiant Kwankwaso dismissed the defections, declaring, "I am not for sale." He urged his remaining supporters to prepare for 2027, framing the betrayal as a cleansing of "fair-weather friends."

• The Numbers: The defection involves the state's entire executive arm and a supermajority of the legislature, a rare consolidation of power that leaves the opposition in tatters.
• The Destination: While not explicitly confirmed in the resignation letters, all signs point to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the new home for Yusuf's camp.

A New Dawn or Betrayal?

For the people of Kano, the development brings mixed emotions. Supporters see it as a strategic alignment with federal power to attract development, while critics view it as the ultimate political betrayal of the Kwankwasiyya movement that brought Yusuf to power.

As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the red caps of the NNPP are being traded for the brooms of the APC, and the battle for the soul of Kano has just entered a volatile new phase.