Senator Masud El-Jibril Doguwa, the Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) "fruit basket" faction in Kano State, has announced plans to hold an emergency meeting following the defection of several prominent party figures to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Among those who switched allegiance on Thursday were Senator Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila (Kano South), Kabiru Alhassan Rurum (former Speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly and representative of Rano/Bunkure/Kibiya Federal Constituency), Sha’aban Sharada (former representative of Kano Municipal Federal Constituency), and Aliyu Gini (Dala Federal Constituency), among others.

Addressing the situation on Friday, Doguwa said the defections were unsurprising and blamed the ongoing internal crisis within the NNPP, particularly tensions with the Kwankwasiyya faction led by former Kano governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

“When I assumed the chairmanship, I made every effort to unite the party, but the Kwankwasiyya group refused to acknowledge my leadership, making progress impossible,” Doguwa stated.

He accused the Kwankwasiyya leadership of fostering division and treating other members unfairly, which, he said, forced many loyalists to exit the party.

Despite these challenges, Doguwa asserted that his faction remains the officially recognized leadership of the NNPP in Kano State, as validated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He dismissed rumors of any alliance with the APC, reaffirming the NNPP’s status as an independent and credible political entity.

Commenting on the widening gulf between his faction and Kwankwaso’s group, Doguwa expressed openness to reconciliation, provided it focused on strengthening and rebuilding the party.

“We will soon convene an emergency meeting to carefully assess the situation and determine our next steps,” he said, noting that consultations are ongoing regarding possible realignments ahead of the 2027 elections.

On the wave of defections, Doguwa emphasized that party-switching is commonplace in Nigerian politics. “Political defections are a normal occurrence. Many prominent politicians across the country have changed parties over the years,” he remarked.

The NNPP, which had seen major success in Kano during the 2023 elections, now faces significant internal divisions that could undermine its prospects heading into the next general elections.