KEY POINTS

• Senator Kawu Sumaila of Kano South has officially defected from the NNPP to the APC, citing internal divisions within the NNPP and a desire to better serve his constituents.

• With his defection, the APC’s majority in the 10th Senate rises to 65 members, reinforcing the ruling party’s dominance in the legislative chamber.

• Sumaila’s political shift follows months of internal crises within the NNPP and is expected to reshape political dynamics in Kano and the broader North-West region.

Senator Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South, formally defected from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, bolstering the APC’s dominance in the 10th National Assembly.

Channelstv reports that Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the move during plenary, reading Sumaila’s letter citing “compelling and undeniable developments within the NNPP” as his reason for leaving.

Sumaila, a former House of Representatives member, criticized his former party as “severely divided and dysfunctional,” claiming the shift would better serve his constituents. His defection raises the APC’s Senate tally to 65 seats, cementing its majority over the opposition PDP (33), Labour Party (5), and NNPP (2). The move reignites debates about political realignment in Nigeria’s volatile legislative landscape.

APC’s growing influence sparks opposition concerns

Sumaila’s switch marks his second party change in three years, having left the APC for the NNPP in 2022 ahead of Kano’s contentious gubernatorial race. His return follows an April 23 Facebook post declaring, “All politics is local, and my primary concern has always been the welfare of my immediate constituency.” Analysts, however, attribute the move to broader trends. “Defections are survival tactics,” said political scientist Dr. Ibrahim Sani. “The APC’s federal might offers patronage and electoral security, while smaller parties like the NNPP struggle with internal cohesion.”

The NNPP, founded in 2022 by former Kano governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, has faced infighting over leadership and strategy. Last month, six NNPP state assembly members in Kano defected to the APC, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Sumaila’s exit further weakens the party’s foothold in its northern stronghold, raising questions about its viability ahead of 2027 elections.