Security presence was heavily reinforced at the Kano State Government House on Monday following widespread speculation that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf may be preparing to defect from his political party.
Operatives from multiple security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), were deployed within and around the government complex, creating an unusual level of tension in the area. Armoured personnel carriers were stationed at strategic points such as the main entrance and the roundabout leading to the Government House, while access to the vicinity was subjected to strict checks.
Although the state government has yet to issue any official statement, political observers say discussions are ongoing about the possibility of Yusuf leaving his party for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The heightened security reportedly caused anxiety among residents in nearby communities. A source told TheCable that the tension spread beyond the Government House, affecting daily activities in surrounding areas.
According to the source, some schools closed earlier than usual after parents were contacted to pick up their children, while traffic congestion worsened along major roads close to the complex as the day progressed.
“Some schools dismissed pupils ahead of the usual closing time after parents were alerted,” the source said. “By the time I passed the area, traffic had already started building up around the Government House and adjoining roads.”
In December 2025, supporters of Rabiu Kwankwaso — former Kano governor and national leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) — under the banner of the Kwankwasiyya movement, publicly called on Kwankwaso and Governor Yusuf to defect to the APC.
