Kano APC Welfare Secretary abandons party for rising ADC

The Welfare Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano state, Bashir Tijjani Maisango, has resigned from the party and defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). This development underscores deepening political realignments in the state following the APC’s recent internal elections.

Maisango announced his resignation in a letter addressed to the APC state chairman, stating that his decision to leave the party was voluntary and effective from 1 April 2026. “I, Bashir Tijjani Maisango, hereby voluntarily resign my membership from the All Progressives Congress (APC), effective April 1, 2026,” the letter read. “I appreciate the opportunities the party has given me and wish the APC well.”

His defection comes barely a week after former Kano state governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and APC 2023 governorship candidate Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna also announced their move to the ADC. This shift is beginning to reshape the political landscape in Kano, a state widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most politically strategic due to its large voting population.

APC member Musa Shehu says Maisango’s departure could be linked to the aftermath of the APC’s recent state congress. The congress was held under the watch of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s administration, which many party stakeholders claim has intensified internal rivalries and triggered fresh alignments ahead of future elections.

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Internal dissatisfaction and party cohesion

Although the congress was intended to reorganise the party structure at the grassroots and strengthen internal cohesion, the exercise has reportedly left some members dissatisfied. This is particularly true among factions that felt sidelined in the new power configuration within the state chapter of the party.

Maisango, a known grassroots mobiliser, had served as the welfare secretary where he was involved in coordinating support initiatives and welfare programmes for party members. While he did not give detailed reasons for his defection, sources within the party suggest that the growing influence of the ADC—fuelled by recent high-profile defections—is attracting politicians seeking alternative platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

ADC positions as a new coalition platform

The entry of prominent figures such as Kwankwaso and Gawuna into the ADC has already sparked speculation about the party’s future electoral ambitions. Analysts say the ADC may be positioning itself as a new coalition platform capable of challenging dominant parties in the state if the wave of defections continues.

Kano’s political terrain has historically been shaped by strong personalities and shifting alliances, with rival blocs often reorganising ahead of major elections. For the APC, Maisango’s resignation adds to concerns about maintaining internal unity after its recent organisational exercise.

Party leaders have yet to publicly comment on the development, but insiders say efforts are ongoing to prevent further defections. Meanwhile, supporters of the ADC in Kano say the growing influx of members signals rising confidence in the party as a viable political alternative. With more than a year until the next electoral cycle, observers believe the latest defections could mark the beginning of a broader political recalibration.