A member of the House of Representatives representing Kano Municipal Federal Constituency, Engr. Sagir Ibrahim Koki, is reportedly on the verge of defecting from the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Independent Mirror reports that not only Koki, but several NNPP lawmakers from Nassarawa, Kumbotso, Gwale, and four other constituencies are also making moves to defect to the ruling APC in the coming weeks.
Koki, a long-time associate of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, founder of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, was a businessman and contractor before venturing into politics.
Sources close to the lawmaker revealed that Koki was initially reluctant to join partisan politics until Kwankwaso personally convinced him to contest for the Kano Municipal seat under the NNPP platform in the 2023 general elections gathering by Politics Digest.
He later won the election, defeating Mukhtari Ishaq Yakasai of the APC and Engr. Yusuf Da’awa of the PDP.
In a related development, Nura Hussaini, a close political ally of Koki from Kano Municipal, has resigned his position as Special Adviser to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf on Commerce.
Though the reason for his resignation was not officially stated, sources said it might not be unconnected with plans to join the APC alongside Koki.
Meanwhile, Senator Kwankwaso recently expressed displeasure over the conduct of some NNPP lawmakers, whom he accused of fraternising with APC members and abandoning the symbolic red cap of the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Observers believe his remarks were directed at Koki, who is said to enjoy a cordial relationship with Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi, Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations and member representing Bichi Federal Constituency.
