Kano Senator Recalls Vehicles from Defected NNPP Leaders

The office of Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, representing Kano Central Senatorial District, has issued a directive to former local government chairmen of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) within the district. These former leaders, who have since switched allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC), are being asked to return vehicles that were initially provided to them for NNPP activities.

The directive, communicated in a letter dated January 28 and observed yesterday, was signed by Engr. Ibrahim Nakwalli Kawaji, the Secretary to the Senator’s Office. A specific instance cited is a letter addressed to the NNPP chairman of Kura Local Government Area, Alhaji Ubale Isyaku Waskas, demanding the return of the "party vehicle provided to you by the Distinguished Senator Rufai Hanga for NNPP activities in your local government." The vehicle was to be returned to the senator’s office at No. 48, Sokoto Road, Nasarawa GRA, Kano.

The communication stipulated that the vehicles were to be surrendered between January 28 and January 30, 2026. The letter explained that the vehicles would be retained at the senator’s office temporarily until the resolution of the party’s internal issues. It also encouraged the recipients to continue their loyal service to the party during this period.

Sources indicate that this directive is applicable to all NNPP local government chairmen across the Kano Central Senatorial District. This includes individuals from local government areas such as Dala, Dawakin Kudu, Fagge, Garun Mallam, Gezawa, Gwale, Kano Municipal, Kumbotso, Kura, Madobi, Minjibir, Nasarawa, Tarauni, Ungogo, and Warawa.

Furthermore, the letter specified that the vehicles must be handed over directly to the head of the senator’s office, Alhaji Shehu Tijjani Usman Tarauni. Immediate compliance was emphasized, with the justification that the vehicles are considered party property.

This development follows the recent official defection of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the APC, accompanied by a significant number of state assembly members, federal representatives, and all 44 local government chairmen in the state. This mass defection has been a subject of considerable discussion and reaction among political figures and party supporters in Kano.

Reactions to the senator's directive have emerged. One observer, social media user Sani Gilashi Haruna, expressed disappointment, calling the action unfortunate and inconsistent with prior political conduct in the state. He referenced an instance where a prominent politician, Alhaji Abdussalam Abdulkarim (AA Zaura), had distributed vehicles to party leaders across all 44 local government areas without requesting their return after an election loss.

Haruna questioned the senator's rationale for recalling the vehicles, especially since they were initially described as empowerment tools. Adding to the discourse, Alhaji Abdussalam Abdulkarim stated his readiness to provide alternative vehicles to the affected party leaders if Senator Hanga proceeds with the recall. His spokesperson, Malam Dahiru Ahmad Maihuddadu, conveyed AA Zaura's willingness to support these leaders with "better vehicles," deeming the senator's action regrettable.