Kano APC: How 60/40 formula unsettles old, new members
When Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in February 2026, the grand rally at Sani Abacha Stadium was staged as a triumph. Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC leaders hailed the move as a “game‑changer” for Kano. But beneath the […]
When Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State defected from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in February 2026, the grand rally at Sani Abacha Stadium was staged as a triumph.
Vice President Kashim Shettima and APC leaders hailed the move as a “game‑changer” for Kano.
But beneath the celebration lies unease. Old APC stalwarts and Kwankwasiyya loyalists now share one political roof under a 60/40 formula that gives Yusuf’s bloc majority control. While national leaders frame it as unity, local realities show skepticism.
Also, analysts say that both camps seem to be skeptical of each other and have not completely blended yet, and both the defectors and the old members seem to be more at home with members of their camps.
But the two groups dismissed any skepticism, saying they are gradually learning to cohabit with each other.
The 60/40 party leadership formula
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, during the formal reception for Governor Yusuf, announced that in line with the party’s tradition, Yusuf and his newly defected members will get 60 per cent of the party’s leadership structure in the state.
On the other hand, old members, comprising bigwigs such as former National Chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, will get the remaining 40 per cent.
The move, according to Nentawe, is to give the new members a sense of belonging as the party has always done in other states.
“It is a deliberate strategy to promote inclusiveness and unity. Governors who defect traditionally enjoy the upper hand,” Nentawe said.
For Yusuf’s camp, the formula is fair. But for the old APC members, the formula is unfair and unsettles them.
Just as the expression of displeasure is ongoing, there also seems to be internal rivalry brewing among some bigwigs in the party. The most recent being the open altercation between the Kano South Senator, Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila and the member representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada constituency in the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa.
In a viral video, Doguwa, a former House Majority Leader, rejected the 60/40 arrangement in his constituency, accusing Senator Sumaila and former Minister Abdullahi Tijjani Gwarzo of imposing ALGON Chairperson Sa’adatu Salisu on him Tudun Wada.
At a rally outside his residence, Doguwa alleged, “They want to silence us in our own stronghold. We will not accept being pushed aside.”
Senator Kawu fired back, “Doguwa is suffering from a mental problem which requires both medical and spiritual intervention. His dream is just to sit on his rep seat forever.”
The clash shocked party faithful, exposing fragile trust issues between the old APC and Kwankwasiyya defectors.
Similarly, in some LGAs, such as Kano Municipal, the two camps held parallel stakeholders meetings, an apparent display of division among them.
Kano APC one, we’re learning to blend
In spite of the obvious brewing tension, some members of the governor’s defection camp insist that there is no issue in the party.
Auwal Lawal Aranposu, Governor Yusuf’s appointee and Deputy Managing Director of Kano State Roads and Traffic Agency (KAROTA), insists that there is nothing new in the APC sharing formula.
He said, “Whenever a sitting governor defects, he is usually given 60 per cent of party structure. There is nothing new.”
On the already brewing internal crisis and open confrontation, Aranposu noted that it is natural for big parties like the APC to experience it, but said they are just interest-based and nothing much serious.
“Internal crisis is not new. With time, we will gradually learn to blend with each other. I don’t want to even believe that the new and old members are skeptical with each other,” the Deputy MD added.
However, not all APC members are on board with the proposal. All efforts to hear from the old APC member proved abortive as all calls and text messages sent to the party chairman in the state, Abdullahi Abbas, and its Secretary, Ibrahim Zakari Sarina, were neither answered nor returned after more than 24 hours.
But old APC leaders are uneasy. A chieftain of the old APC in Dala Local Government, Alhaji Saidu Garba Dala, lamented the sharing formula of the national leadership of the party, as not being fair to them
He argued that the formula does not adequately reflect the party’s political strength or the leverage held by each faction. One particularly contentious issue revolves around the allocation of local government positions.
Despite being granted 40 per cent of the leadership positions, the faction reportedly has control over only 14 of the 44 local government areas in the state. This has led to accusations of an unfair distribution and even claims of dictatorship.
The APC chieftain, who declined to confirm or deny the authenticity of the viral document, expressed strong disapproval, stating, “The decision will be outrightly rejected. It amounts to dictatorship and is null and void.”
He stressed that the formula should not be dictated from the top but should be a mutual arrangement, reflecting the democratic principles of the party.
He added, “We surely do not see this as a sign of political cohesion. This portends the danger of a political rift.
“We fought for APC when it was tough. Now they want to hand everything to newcomers. It feels unfair,” Dala added.
Governor Yusuf’s entry into the APC dashed the ambitions of several APC heavyweights. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin withdrew his governorship bid, raising Yusuf’s hand in a symbolic endorsement.
Ganduje also confirmed that the 2023 flag bearer Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, and his running mate, Murtala Sule Garo, had also stepped aside.
For Yusuf, with intending contestants dropping their ambition, the coast seems clear for an automatic ticket in 2027. For others, the defection has forced recalibration, Senate seats, ministerial ambitions, or quiet resistance.
Internal crisis in Kano APC natural – Political analyst
Dr Kabiru Sa’id Sufi, a Kano-based political analyst, believes the uneasy calm in Kano APC is only natural given the prevailing circumstances.
Sufi, a lecturer at Kano State College of Arts, Science and Remedial Studies, said, “The two camps have different orientations and were adversaries for a long time. Suddenly, circumstances brought them together. It will take time for them to understand each other and blend,” he said.
According to him, both sides must make sacrifices; while old APC members must be more accommodating, new defectors, despite holding government power, must also concede space.
He noted that in some local government areas, such as Tudun Wada and Kano Municipal, the tension has been more visible, with parallel stakeholder meetings held by the two camps.
“Politics is about give and take. Leaders of both sides must make concessions if they want to remain strong,” he added.
Dr Sufi warned that dissatisfaction could trigger defections, especially since not all political heavyweights are in APC Kwankwaso still holds sway in NNPP, while Shekarau has remnants in the PDP.
“APC now has more heavyweights than any other party in Kano, but that does not guarantee they will stay. If their interests are not catered for, some may pitch camp against APC itself,” he cautioned.
On the 60/40 formula, he said, while it reflects APC’s tradition of giving governors an upper hand, its application may vary.
“On paper, it is 60/40, but in practice, we have seen 50/50 in some areas. It is sometimes difficult to apply, as seen in other states. The party must manage this carefully if it wants to avoid cracks,” he concluded.
Sufi said if managed well, APC could consolidate Kano as a fortress ahead of 2027. “But if mismanaged, the blend could become a storm that fractures the party and reopens space for rivals.”