Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a former aide to Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has said the defection of Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has already altered the political landscape in Kano and beyond.
Speaking during a Trust TV interview, Yakasai said the impact of Kwankwaso’s move is not something that will materialise in the future but something already evident.
“I don’t think it is going to change anything; it has already changed the narrative,” he said.
Yakasai explained that recent political meetings and actions by key figures suggest the development has unsettled both state and national actors.
According to him, one of the earliest signs was Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s meetings with various political groups in Kano.
“After that development, the governor met with former members of the House of Representatives. That was the first meeting he had,” Yakasai said.
“The second point is that he met with the serving House of Representatives members and the senators,” he said.
Yakasai noted that although there were rumours of disagreements among some politicians, some of these issues were later resolved through dialogue.
He stressed that such meetings had not been taking place previously, and their sudden emergence indicates a shift in the political atmosphere.
Yakasai further said the reaction extends beyond Kano State, with indications that national leaders are also concerned.
“It is not just the state that is jittery, but also the national leadership, including the president himself,” he said.
He pointed to recent meetings involving senior figures in the ruling party as evidence.
“I saw that the former national chairman had a meeting with the president, and I also learned that governors were involved in meetings as well,” he stated.
Yakasai questioned the timing of these meetings, suggesting they were prompted by recent political developments.
“The timing is what gives it away. It shows that they are trying to do some damage control,” he said.
He added that such engagements had not been occurring previously, particularly direct meetings between key figures.
“For a long time, there was no one-on-one meeting like this. Why now?” he asked.
Yakasai expressed doubt over the ability of the ruling party to manage the situation.
“They are trying to control the damage, but unfortunately, I don’t see how they are going to succeed,” he said.
Kwankwaso’s defection has already shifted Kano’s political balance – Yakasai
