In one month, hundreds of members of the New New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State have switched camp to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following what is tagged as the Tsunami of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin.
The wave of defection rocking the NNPP had seen ten prominent members of the party from across the three senatorial districts of Kano State joining the APC, citing the quality representation and the interventions of Senator Barau, famously known as Maliya in the state as their attraction to the party.
From Kano to Abuja and Abuja to Kano, and vice versa, there is a defection galore in the NNPP. APC is gaining while the top echelon of the NNPP, the ruling party in the Kano State, is counting their losses, courtesy of Senator Barau’s sterling legislative excellence at the Upper Chamber.
Like used tissue papers, the red caps, the symbol of the Kwankwasiyya Movement in Kano State, are being trashed by the followers of the party, thus giving the leaders of the movement and NNPP, sleepless nights, including the Presidential Candidate of the party in 2023, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
Cutting across critical spheres, the 10 top members of the NNPP who have joined the APC in Kano State and hundreds of supporters have been unveiled.
1. Abdulrahman Maikadaman Kwankwasiyya
Abdulrahman Maikadama is the Senior Special Assistant to the governor of Kano State on Entrepreneurship, leader of the Kwankwasiyya in Plateau State, leader of G-6 in Kano State and National Chairman of Kwankwasiyya Akasa A Tsare.
While announcing his defection to the APC, Abdulrahman said he is now Maikadaman Maliya and announced his resignation from the positions he was holding at the NNPP.
2. Muttaka Balarabe Tuta
The defection galore began with Muttaka Balarabe Tuta, the former Chairman of the Kano State Supervisory Councilors Forum. Tuta, as he is fondly called, is from the Shanono local government area of Kano North Senatorial District.
3. Ali Isa Jita
Ali Isa Jita is a talented and renowned singer and actor in the Kannywood industry. He made remarkable contributions to the entertainment industry and has contributed immensely to his former party, the NNPP. The Northern Singer’s Association’s Chairman, Murya Daya, is now a full-fledged member of the APC.
4. Alhaji Hassan Nuhu Hassan, Chairman Oil and Gas Marketers in Kano State
He is one of the financiers of the NNPP. Weeks ago, at the residence of the Deputy President of the Senate in Abuja, he announced his exit from the party.
5. Salisu Muhammed Officer
He is a prominent figure in the Kannywood Kwankwasiyya Movement and the leader of the Arewa Filmmakers Association. He has abandoned the red cap for the largest party in Africa, the APC.
6. Engineer Hamisu Abubakar Lambu
Lambu was a member of the House of Representatives in the 3rd Republic 1993, member-elect of the House of Representatives in 1997, Special Adviser to Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso during his first tenure as Kano Governor – 1999-2003, Special Adviser to Kwankwaso 2011-2015, he was Commissioner in 2015 and Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Kano Power Company 2016-2019.
While dropping his red cap, he said he joined APC to join hands in addressing the challenges facing Kano State and the entire country.
7. Hon Muhammad Ladan Kano (Kumbotso)
He is a grassroots politician who hails from Kumbotso. He was a member of the NNPP and contributed to the party’s victory in 2023. He is now a member of APC.
8. Alhaji Habu Tabule
The talented singer Habu Tabule has contributed immensely to the NNPP. A member of the Kannywood Kwankwasiyya has joined the APC, courtesy of the Barau Tsunami.
9. Rabiu Ibrahim Daushe
Daushe is a famous and talented Kannywood artist. He is well known for his comic actions, entertaining and enlightening the public. A key member of the Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano has joined the APC.
10: Alhaji Sani Dambo
Dambo, a top aide of the Kano State Governor, is the second appointee of the Kano State governor to join the APC.
Until his defection, he was the Special Adviser on Investment to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State. He had served twice as the chairman of the Kano State Board of Internal Revenue.