Kwankwaso Sets Conditions for Joining APC, Demands Assurances on Kano Government and Supporters’ Welfare

Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State and National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has stated that any consideration of joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) must be backed by clear and concrete assurances regarding the future of the Kano State government and the protection of his political supporters.

Kwankwaso made this position known on Wednesday at his Miller Road residence in Kano during a meeting with party leaders and supporters drawn from Rano and Dawakin Tofa Local Government Areas, as well as other Kwankwasiyya groups. The gathering was aimed at reaffirming loyalty to the NNPP amid growing political speculation about possible defections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Conditions for Possible Defection to APC by Kwankwaso

Addressing the gathering, Kwankwaso clarified that he had not completely ruled out the possibility of joining the APC but insisted that such a move could only happen under clearly defined terms. According to him, assurances must first be given on the continuity of the Kano State government and the political future of NNPP lawmakers and loyal supporters.

“I didn’t say I won’t join APC, but we must first be clearly assured of the future of the Kano State government before we join the APC,” he said. “What will be the fate of our lawmakers and other supporters before we agree to defect?”

He emphasized that without firm guarantees, any decision to defect would be premature, noting that political realignments must prioritise the protection of those who have remained loyal to the party and its ideology over the years.

Lessons from Past Political Alliances

The former governor recalled previous political experiences in which his faction played significant roles in forming governments but was later marginalised. He described those experiences as painful lessons that now inform his cautious approach to any new alliance.

“In the past, we joined and contributed to forming the government, but later we were abandoned. That was why we left the party,” Kwankwaso said. “Have they now changed their position toward us? Everyone knows the role we played at that time.”

Kwankwaso further stated that, as of now, no individual or group had given him the assurances needed to guarantee the survival of the NNPP’s political structure within any potential new arrangement. He stressed the importance of clarity, saying he needed to know exactly where he and his supporters would stand.

Show of Loyalty and Political Implications For Kwankwaso

The meeting was attended by several top government and party officials, including the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo; the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Yusuf Kofar Mata; and the Kano State NNPP Chairman, Hon. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa. Other senior party figures were also present, publicly reaffirming their loyalty to Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.

Political observers noted that the strong show of support by key officials underscores Kwankwaso’s continued influence within Kano politics and highlights internal tensions amid speculation about Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s possible defection to the APC. Analysts say Kwankwaso’s stance reflects a broader strategy to safeguard party structures and loyalists as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.