Kano APC disputes NDC’s defection claims, accuses Kwankwasiyya of political diversion

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has dismissed claims that its members in Kumbotso Local Government Area have defected to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), insisting the party remains united and retains a strong grassroots structure in the area as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gather momentum.

Auwalu Soja, the APC State publicity secretary, said in a statement issued on Wednesday that reports of mass defections were false and intended to divert public attention from what he described as internal challenges within the Kwankwasiyya movement.

He maintained that the APC still enjoys the support of key political stakeholders and loyal members across Kumbotso, adding that the party has no record of the individuals allegedly said to have abandoned its fold.

According to Soja, the identities of the purported defectors remain unknown to the party, making the claims unverifiable and lacking in credibility.

“The APC remains intact in Kumbotso. Our members are united, committed and fully aligned with the leadership of the party in Kano State. Those being paraded as defectors are unknown to our structures,” he said.

Soja attributed the continued loyalty of party members in the local government to ongoing Federal Government infrastructure projects, including the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline and the Kaduna-Kano-Maradi standard gauge railway, both of which pass through parts of Kumbotso.

He also said that APC members appreciate the investment initiatives being attracted to Kumbotso by Abba Kabir Yusuf, noting that the projects are expected to stimulate economic growth and expand employment opportunities for young people.

The APC spokesman urged the Kwankwasiyya movement to concentrate on resolving what he described as its internal leadership crisis instead of engaging in propaganda.

He argued that Kano voters are becoming increasingly discerning and would not be persuaded by what he called politically motivated claims of mass defections.

Soja therefore, called on residents to disregard reports circulating on social media alleging that APC members in Kumbotso had joined the NDC, reiterating that the ruling party remains firmly established in the local government.

The APC’s reaction followed an earlier statement by the Kwankwasiyya movement, which had claimed that several APC members in Kumbotso formally defected to the NDC, describing the development as another indication of growing support for the opposition coalition in Kano State.

According to the Kwankwasiyya movement, the defectors were received at a political gathering attended by party supporters and local coordinators, where they were welcomed into the NDC. The group claimed that the new entrants cited dissatisfaction with the APC’s leadership and the desire to align with what they described as a broader movement for political change ahead of the 2027 elections.

The movement further alleged that the defections reflected increasing public confidence in the NDC and predicted that more APC members across Kano’s 44 local government areas would join the party in the coming months.

However, the APC has rejected the claims in their entirety, insisting that no recognised member of its Kumbotso structure defected and describing the announcement as a political stunt aimed at creating a false impression of declining support for the ruling party.

The exchange marks the latest in a series of verbal confrontations between the APC and the Kwankwasiyya movement as political parties intensify grassroots mobilisation and seek to consolidate support across Kano State ahead of the 2027 elections.