Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, the eldest son of the National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has officially resigned his position as the Kano State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development. His resignation on Monday, January 26, 2026, marks a pivotal moment in the state’s political landscape, as it coincides with Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s formal entry into the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In a statement he personally signed, the former commissioner described his decision to step down from the State Executive Council as one taken with a “heavy heart.” While expressing profound gratitude to Governor Yusuf for the opportunity to serve the state, he emphasized the value of the experiences gained during his tenure. He prayed for the continued growth of the state’s youth and sports sectors, expressing hope that they would remain a priority for the administration in the years to come.
The resignation follows a weekend of high-stakes political realignment. Governor Yusuf, who was elected on the NNPP platform in 2023, formally resigned from the party last Friday, citing irreconcilable internal crises. On Monday, he officially joined the APC, accompanied by 22 members of the State House of Assembly and all 44 local government chairmen. This move signals a definitive break between the Governor and his long-time political mentor, Senator Kwankwaso.
Mustapha Kwankwaso’s exit is part of a broader wave of resignations by cabinet members loyal to the Kwankwasiyya movement. Earlier today, Yusuf Kofarmata, the Commissioner for Science, Technology, and Innovation, also resigned, stating that he could not serve in a government that had “derailed” from the ideology that brought it to power. As the political map of Kano continues to be redrawn, the departure of the younger Kwankwaso underscores the deep divisions currently reshaping the state’s leadership ahead of the next election cycle.
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