A senior figure in the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Ladipo Johnson, has expressed confidence that the party will emerge victorious in the 2027 Kano State governorship election, regardless of whether Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf remains with the NNPP or defects to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Johnson made the remarks amid renewed speculation over the governor’s political future, following his recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, which has fueled rumours of a possible defection.
Appearing on Tuesday’s Channels Television programme, The Morning Brief, Johnson argued that the NNPP has repeatedly demonstrated its political strength in Kano State, even when it lacked control of government structures.
He recalled the 2019 election, noting that despite not having a sitting governor or lawmakers at the time, the party believed it had secured victory in Kano before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the contest inconclusive, a process that eventually led to Abdullahi Ganduje’s re-election.
According to him, a similar scenario played out in 2023 when the NNPP challenged the APC once again.
He maintained that Governor Yusuf was fully aware that he won the election, despite the party not enjoying the advantages of incumbency.
Johnson emphasized that the NNPP’s success was achieved without grassroots office holders such as councillors or other local officials, stressing that the party still clinched most of the seats.
He said the party was not disturbed by discussions around the governor’s possible exit ahead of the next election cycle.
Johnson expressed strong belief that the NNPP would retain Kano in 2027, with or without Yusuf in its ranks, describing his confidence not as arrogance but as a realistic assessment of political dynamics in the state.
