DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT BARAU I. JIBRIN WELCOMES DEFECTORS FROM NNPP AND KWANKWASIYYA MOVEMENT TO APC
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu – Democracy Newsline Newspaper
September 17, 2025
In a significant political development that further underscores the shifting dynamics in Kano State’s political landscape, the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, today welcomed a group of young defectors from the New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP) and the Kwankwasiyya Movement into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The defectors, all from Danbatta Local Government Area of Kano State, were received by Senator Barau at his office in the National Assembly, Abuja, amid jubilant cheers and party chants. The delegation was led by the Chairman of the APC in Danbatta, Alhaji Mohammed Liman, alongside prominent political figure Alhaji Ado Rabiu Danbayero.
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In a powerful symbolic gesture, the young defectors publicly removed and rejected their red caps—the iconic symbol of the Kwankwasiyya Movement—declaring their total allegiance to the APC and denouncing what they described as marginalization, disillusionment, and internal crises within the NNPP.
Speaking on behalf of the group, one of the defectors stated:
“We joined the NNPP and the Kwankwasiyya Movement with high hopes, but what we found was exclusion, dictatorship, and a lack of true democratic values. The APC offers us real opportunity, inclusiveness, and a future we can believe in.”
Senator Barau, who is also the highest-ranking elected official from Kano State, warmly welcomed the new members, describing their decision as bold, timely, and politically wise. He emphasized that the APC remains the largest and most organized political party not only in Nigeria but across West Africa, offering a platform for progressive politics, youth empowerment, and national development.
“He congratulate you for making the right decision—leaving a mushroom, struggling party for a truly national and well-rooted political institution like the APC,” Senator Barau said. “The NNPP is currently on life support. Its internal disarray and leadership conflicts have made it clear that it is only a matter of time before it fades into political oblivion.”
He assured the defectors that the APC in Kano and at the national level is ready to provide them with the support, mentorship, and inclusion they were denied in their former political home. He also commended their courage in choosing progress over sentiment.
Barau reiterated the party’s openness to more defectors, especially young people disenchanted by political manipulation and tokenism in fringe movements, urging them to join hands in building a better, more inclusive Kano and Nigeria at large.
The visit ended with chants of “Sai Barau! Sai APC!” as the new entrants received APC caps and party flags, symbolizing their formal integration into the fold.
This latest defection is widely seen as a major blow to the NNPP in Kano State, further diminishing the strength of the once-energetic Kwankwasiyya Movement, which has faced increasing internal strife, defections, and declining grassroots support in recent months.
Senator Barau I. Jibrin has emerged as a key political force not just in Kano but nationally, earning respect for his legislative prowess, inclusive politics, and bridge-building leadership style. His role in stabilizing and strengthening the APC in Kano has been crucial in attracting disillusioned opposition members, particularly the youth, who now see the APC as the platform of the future.
