Former Kano State Governor and National Leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said any consideration of joining the All Progressives Congress (APC) must be backed by clear assurances on the future of the Kano State government and the welfare of his supporters.
Kwankwaso made this known on Wednesday at his Miller Road residence in Kano during a meeting with leaders and supporters from Rano and Dawakin Tofa Local Government Areas, alongside other Kwankwasiyya groups who reaffirmed their loyalty to the party.
“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. What will be the fate of our lawmakers and other supporters before we agree to defect?” Kwankwaso said.
Recalling past political realignments, the former governor said his faction had previously helped to form governments, only to be sidelined afterwards.
“In the past, we joined and contributed to forming the government, but later we were abandoned. That was why we left the party. Have they now changed their position toward us? Everyone knows the role we played at that time,” he added.
Kwankwaso stressed that no concrete assurances had yet been given to guarantee the survival of the party’s political structure in the event of a defection.
“Up till now, no one has given me a clear assurance that we will be allowed to retain our government and continue with our political structure. I need to know where I stand,” he said.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo; the Commissioner for Science and Technology, Yusuf Kofar Mata; the NNPP state chairman, Hon. Hashim Sulaiman Dungurawa; and other top party officials, all of whom publicly pledged loyalty to Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya Movement.
Observers said the strong turnout by key government officials underscored a widening internal divide and reinforced Kwankwaso’s grip on the party amid speculation over a possible defection by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the APC.
Political analysts noted that Kwankwaso’s cautious stance highlights his determination to secure party structures and protect loyalists as political manoeuvring intensifies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
