The governor, elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the umbrella of the Progressive Governors Forum, is among top party figures expected in Kano for the formal defection of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf as the Sani Abacha Stadium transforms into a major political convergence point.
By Monday morning, the stadium had taken on the atmosphere of a national convention ground, with hundreds of supporters arriving early while workers set up tents, waved party banners and installed sound equipment. Security presence was increased across the region ahead of the high-profile event.
The defection is expected to be attended by a powerful delegation from the APC national leadership led by Vice President Kashim Shettima as well as several APC governors, indicating the strategic importance the ruling party attaches to the development.
Former National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has also been invited to attend, in what party insiders describe as a symbolic return to the political center stage of Kano.
The governor is expected to join the APC along with federal and state lawmakers, all 44 local government chairmen and thousands of supporters in a move that observers say could dramatically reshape the political equation in the state and consolidate the party's influence in the North-West.
This follows a series of closed-door discussions held with key party stakeholders on Sunday to finalize logistics and harmonize the situation ahead of the event. Party officials said the talks reflect growing confidence in the leadership and policy direction of the APC.
Amidst the political activities, attention was also drawn to the recent fire at the popular Singer Market. Party leaders who visited the site expressed sympathy with the affected traders and promised to cooperate with the authorities concerned to support reconstruction efforts and take measures to prevent a recurrence.
Political analysts say the defection marks a significant realignment in Kano, a state long considered a key battleground, and could boost the APC's electoral prospects in future contests.
