Confusion over Kwankwaso’s rumoured move to APC

…His defection could be game changer in 2027 – Analysts

There is confusion over reports that former Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was in advanced consultations to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general election.

Despite media reports over the weekend, sources close to the former senator told BusinessDay that there was nothing concrete yet.

The APC lost Kano to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 election and assumed a new status as the leading opposition party in the state.

Kwankwaso had only last week declared that his party was not against joining the APC.

While receiving Buhari Bakwana, a former political adviser to ex-governor Abdullahi Ganduje, alongside APC members drawn from the 44 local government areas of Kano State, at his Miller Road residence in Kano, the NNPP leader said any discussion of a merger or return to the APC must spell out tangible benefits for his party.

“If you are asking us to join APC, you must tell us what NNPP will gain. We have gubernatorial candidates in all the states and full structures nationwide. What will you offer them if we join?” he queried.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us,” he maintained.

Kwankwaso’s defection to the APC would mark the second time he would be identifying with the party.

To many, his defection to the APC did not come as a surprise as it has been long speculated that such would happen. The ruling party has made several attempts to bring him back to its fold after the 2023 general election and it appears that they have succeeded now.

This is because among other reasons, it is believed that Kwankwaso controls the votes in Kano.

Sources within the ruling party confirmed to BusinessDay that Kwankwaso has opened direct lines of communication with Nentawe Yilwatda, the APC national chairman, and has already submitted a formal letter to the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, signalling his intention to return to the APC.

A party chieftain at the APC secretariat in Abuja disclosed that talks between Kwankwaso and the national leadership were ongoing and had reached an advanced stage.

The chieftain stated that he expected the former governor to join the APC soon.

“A line of communication is on now; this follows a meeting the former governor recently held with the presidency where he lay down his demands.

“As a party, we will abide by whatever decision the leaders feel is in the best interest of the APC,” the chieftain said.

Kwankwaso, who powered the NNPP to victory in Kano during the last general election, delivering both the presidential and governorship polls, remains a dominant political figure in the state.

His protégé, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, defeated the APC’s Nasir Yusuf Gawuna in the governorship race.

Several people within the Kano APC stated that, Kwankwaso has presented a set of conditions for his defection.

Chief among them is a demand that Governor Yusuf be allowed to fly the APC governorship ticket in 2027, while Kwankwaso himself is assured of a prominent role in the next APC-led federal government.

“We are aware of the letter he submitted, but it is not something we can discuss openly now,” the source said. “If he is coming, we have nothing against that.

He is welcome. But from what we know, the letter was submitted in Abuja, not Kano, because of his long-standing rivalry with the Kano chapter of the party.”

Political watchers say Kwankwaso’s move, which is coming less than two years to the 2027 general election, was a signal of his readiness to reposition himself within the ruling party’s power structure and potentially play a decisive role in the next electoral cycle.

Some days ago, has a preparation to Kwankwaso’s potential defection to APC, critical stakeholders of the APC from Kano State yesterday held a strategy meeting last week reports stated.

Reports said the meeting which had in attendance, prominent APC leaders including the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin; immediate past APC national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje; Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Ata; and Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Basheer Lado, endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term.

The stakeholders also resolved to work assiduously to ensure that the APC reclaims power in Kano in the 2027 governorship election.

Others at the meeting were Kawu Sumaila (APC, Kano South), the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Abubakar Kabir Bichi; Senator Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya; state chairman of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas and many other bigwigs of the APC in Kano State.

Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), said the meeting examined the state of the party in Kano and the issue of governance and discovered that President Tinubu had done well for the state and the entire country.

“We discovered several projects that have been implemented. Others are ongoing in our state and indeed the entire northern part of this country.

“We also discovered that so many people have been appointed into various offices in our state and indeed the entire nation, the entire northern part of Nigeria.

“We also examined the fact that our party is now growing from strength to strength because of several interventions made by President towards alleviating the suffering of our people.

“So, we are solidly behind him as said by the former national chairman (Ganduje). We are solidly behind him because he loves us. We have never asked for anything from him that he has not done for us,” he said.

Kwankwaso’s defection game changer in 2027 – Analysts

Pundits and political watchers believe Kwankwaso had already agreed to join the ruling party and may be negotiating a favourable term before making the move.

However, there is the general agreement that his defection to the ruling party could ultimately have a big implication on the result of the presidential poll in 2027.

The analysts stated that the growth of the Kwankwasiya movement, which he commands across the North western states, could not be underestimated.

“Whatever you say about him, he controls Kano and you know the population of that state.

“I think the ruling party is afraid of losing Kano to the opposition and they are doing everything they can to get him.

“If he joins the APC, it is a big advantage to Tinubu, but let us watch and see, nothing is decided until election day”, John Sunday, a political analyst, said.

The analyst further pointed there could be division within the NNPP camp before the 2027 general election, stressing that some leaders may not be comfortable moving to the APC and losing their powers.

Similarly, Temitope Musowo, political analyst, said Kwankwaso may be delaying his defection to negotiate a favourable term before his defection to the ruling party.

“He knows wining Kano is not certain in 2027, especially with the kind of electoral system that we have and so defecting may be the only option for him.

“Don’t forget our politicians only think of themselves, he is already thinking of what he stands to lose, if Kano is taken from him and before joining APC, he has to negotiate and get a good deal.”

Kwankwaso denies plan to join ruling party

Meanwhile, in a surprise twist, the former Kano State governor has denied reports that he is planning to change his political party.

Reacting over the weekend via a post on his official X account, the former Minister of Defence said: “We have been alerted to some online statements suggesting that we have submitted a letter of intent to join a political party in the country.

“We would like to clarify that we have not made any such submission to any party.

“The public is therefore advised to stay informed of any further information regarding our matter through the established official channels.”

Similarly, Ganduje, the former national chairman of the APC, has not been comfortable with his plan to join the ruling party.

Such was seen in a surprise viral video on X, where Ganduje was seen reacting to the purported move by Kwankwaso to rejoin the ruling party.

Ganduje said he was shocked to hear that Kwankwaso was planning to re-join the party.
“I’m surprised to hear that Kwankwaso will return to the APC after he had described the party as mad.
“They have now vomited and licked it, and he once said President Tinubu doesn’t know how to govern; only building Lagos with Nigeria’s money.”