Kano APC in turmoil: Can it survive boiling leadership crisis?

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State is facing a deepening internal crisis, one that threatens its chances of reclaiming power from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).

The latest flashpoint? A battle over leadership, with Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Atta, openly rejecting the state party chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, who has been backed for another term by APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

At a recent Fagge APC Caucus meeting in Kano, Atta did not mince words, as he declared that the party stood no chance of reclaiming the state in 2027 under Abbas’ leadership. More significantly, he issued a direct threat: if Abbas remains, he and his supporters would walk away from the party.

The roots of this turmoil stretch back to the 2023 elections, where APC suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of the NNPP. Many party insiders argue that Abbas’ long tenure—spanning nearly a decade—has left the APC stagnant and disconnected from grassroots supporters. Yet, Ganduje remains steadfast in his support for Abbas, signaling that the party’s internal democracy may be struggling under the weight of entrenched interests.

Atta’s argument goes beyond political strategy; he frames the loss in moral and spiritual terms. “Votes do not give power, money cannot buy power, and even the people do not ultimately decide who rules,” he asserted, claiming that APC lost not due to electoral miscalculations but because they “challenged God.”

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But what does this rhetoric mean for the party’s future? Will a spiritual narrative resonate with disenchanted supporters, or will it deepen divisions in a state where political loyalty is often shaped by pragmatic concerns rather than ideological purity?

Atta’s defection, should it happen, would be more than symbolic. Kano remains a crucial battleground state, and the APC cannot afford to alienate key political figures who command grassroots influence. If dissatisfied members begin to break away, the NNPP could consolidate its hold on Kano, further diminishing APC’s prospects in the region.

Moreover, this crisis raises a larger question: Is the APC leadership at the national level willing to risk Kano’s strategic importance over Ganduje’s loyalty to Abbas? If the party fails to address these internal grievances, it risks becoming a fractured entity, with factions pulling in opposite directions ahead of 2027.

The coming weeks will be critical. If APC fails to manage this crisis, the party may find itself not just weakened but irrelevant in Kano’s evolving political landscape. The question remains: will party leaders prioritize power consolidation, or will they take the necessary steps to secure victory in 2027?

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