Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, on Tuesday attended plenary at the National Assembly in Abuja, where he witnessed the defection of eight members of the House of Representatives from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defections were formally announced during a plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas.

Letters from the lawmakers were read on the floor, citing internal crises within the NNPP as the primary reason for their decision.

The lawmakers who defected are Tijjani Abdulkadir Jobe (Dawakin Tofa/Rimin Gado/Tofa), Garba Ibrahim Diso (Gwale), Hassan Shehu Hussain (Nassarawa), Idris Dankawu (Kumbotso), Muhammad Chiroma Nalaraba (Gezawa/Gabasawa), Rabiu Yusuf (Takai/Sumaila), Ghali Mustapha Tijjani (Albasu/Gaya/Ajingi), and Muhammad Bello Shehu (Fagge).

Prominent political figures at the session included former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jibrin, alongside other party leaders and stakeholders.

Speaking after the session, Governor Yusuf described the defections as part of the democratic process, noting that political realignments are common in a vibrant democracy.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivering democratic dividends to the people of Kano State, regardless of political affiliations, and called for unity and cooperation among elected representatives to advance the state’s development.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.