Kano NNPP Crisis: Minister Hints at Efforts to Bring Back NNPP Lawmakers to APC

• Minister Yusuf Abdullahi Ata announced efforts to bring back prominent NNPP members to the APC, addressing party issues in Kano
• Ata emphasized the need for strategic planning to secure APC’s influence in Kano ahead of the 2027 elections

The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, has announced efforts to bring prominent members of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), including Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila and Representative Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, back to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ata disclosed that his recent appointment is part of a strategy to address party issues in Kano and reunite former members with the APC.

Sumaila, representing Kano South, and Rurum, a former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly, left the APC for the NNPP before the 2023 elections, citing the marginalization of Kano South in the APC’s governorship candidate selection.

Along with Aliyu Sani Madakin-Gini, the Deputy Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, both have been involved in internal conflicts within the NNPP.

In an interview with BBC Hausa, Ata explained his role in stabilizing the party, saying, “When you are given an appointment in government, understanding the job is key to making progress.

This is why supporters are pleased when appointments go to those who worked hard for the party.” He expressed confidence in the APC’s position in Kano, noting reduced support for NNPP and strategic planning to secure future election victories.

Ata, from Kano Central, highlighted the importance of balance in the party’s regional strategy. He stated that the northern Kano region—home to key figures like Ganduje and Abba Bichi—was the only area where the APC secured wins.

He mentioned that bringing in figures like Rurum, Sumaila, and Abdulmumin Jibrin Kofa, who left the APC for the NNPP before the last elections, would bolster the party’s efforts.

Ata also indicated that his appointment was politically motivated, clearly focusing on delivering Kano for the APC in the 2027 elections.