- Demand inclusive governance
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s decision to dump the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) on Friday, some Kwankwasiyya youth groups in Kano State have given him conditions to enjoy their loyalty going forward.
In expressing their desire to be politically aligned with the Governor ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Kwankwasiya groups urged the administration to urgently addresses issues of marginalisation and lack of inclusion in governance.
Speaking on behalf of the groups during a youth engagement forum in Kano, on Saturday, Aminu Abdullahi, popularly known as Alhaji Warkal, said the youths were not opposed to the governor personally but were reacting to what they termed exclusion from decision-making and government programmes.
Abdullahi said: “We are not saying we will never move with him. We will move with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf if the government genuinely carries the youths along and gives them a sense of belonging.”
He said many young people who worked for the success of the Kwankwasiyya movement and the NNPP in the 2023 elections felt abandoned after the victory.
An embittered Abdullahi further said, “These youths sacrificed their time, energy and resources to bring the government into power. But after that, they were not involved in programmes, consultations or opportunities that concern them.”
He said lack of youth inclusion in governance has contributed to growing frustration among supporters of the Movement in Kano, adding: “You cannot expect young people to follow blindly when they are not embedded in governance. Youth engagement is key to reducing crime and social tension.”
Dismissing claims that political actors were forcing or inducing the youths to take sides, Abdullahi insisted that their position was based purely on interest and expectations.
Hear him: “This is not about hijacking anyone. Politics is about interest. If the government listens to the youths and supports them, they will support the government in return.”
The Spokesperson disclosed that discussions held with various youth groups showed a willingness to align with the governor, provided their concerns were addressed.
The Kwankwasiyya Movement, also known as the ‘Red Cap Revolution’, is the brainchild of former Kano State Governor and the National Leader of NNPP, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Meanwhile, in abandoning the NNPP, Governor Yusuf blamed deepening internal crisis and persistent leadership disputes within the party as the main reason for the decision.
Governor Yusuf, who conveyed his resignation in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the NNPP in Diso-Chiranchi Ward, Gwale Local Government Area, said the decision takes effect from Sunday, January 25, 2026.
According to him, “In recent times, the party has been confronted with persistent internal challenges arising from leadership disagreements and ongoing legal processes, many of which are presently before the courts for judicial determination.”
He said the disputes have led to growing disenfranchisement and discontentment among party members, thereby widening divisions and weakening internal cohesion.
