Amid intensifying political maneuvering ahead of the 2027 general elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) are locked in a war of words over the rumoured defection of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the NNPP’s national leader and former governor of Kano State.
The row began after APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, sensationally declared the NNPP “dead” during a public address at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday. Ganduje, who shares a long-standing political rivalry with Kwankwaso, claimed that the former defence minister was plotting to return to the ruling APC.
“The coffin has already been constructed. What remains now is to dig the grave,” Ganduje said. “Kwankwaso wants to come back, and we will welcome him.”
Reacting swiftly, NNPP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, dismissed Ganduje’s claims as baseless and politically motivated. In an exclusive interview with The Punch, Johnson asserted that Kwankwaso remains committed to strengthening the NNPP as a viable third force in Nigerian politics.
“Senator Kwankwaso has not—repeat, not—indicated any intention to join the APC,” he stated. “Ganduje’s comments are a reflection of the fear APC harbours towards the influence and credibility of Kwankwaso. He is consulting widely with Nigerians to reposition the NNPP ahead of 2027.”
Johnson insisted that Ganduje’s statement was not only “panic-driven” but also a desperate attempt to distract from the APC’s poor governance and internal wranglings.
Further solidifying the NNPP’s stance, the party’s Osun State Chairman, Dr. Tosin Odeyemi, also criticised Ganduje’s remarks, describing them as laughable and detached from political reality.
“Kwankwaso is too visionary to align with a party like the APC that has plunged Nigeria into economic hardship,” Odeyemi stated. “Instead of fixing the mess within the APC, Ganduje is busy spreading propaganda. It’s shameful.”
He suggested that Ganduje’s supporters in Kano may be feeding him false hopes in exchange for political favours, asserting that the NNPP remains focused on offering credible alternatives to Nigerians.
However, the Kano State chapter of the APC holds a different view. In a strong-worded statement, APC Public Relations Officer in Kano, Ahmed S. Aruwa, claimed that Kwankwaso’s return would be more of a curse than a blessing for the party.
“Kwankwaso is a political liability. He left the PDP in ruins and is now doing the same to the NNPP. We do not need him back in the APC,” Aruwa said.
He further accused Kwankwaso of planning to hijack the APC structure to advance his alleged presidential ambitions for 2031, after President Tinubu’s expected second term.
“His interest is purely selfish. He wants to return through the backdoor, hijack the party, and position himself for another presidential bid,” Aruwa warned.
Interestingly, Aruwa hinted that any potential return of Kwankwaso to the APC would be contingent on his reconciliation with Ganduje, a demand that many political observers consider improbable given their bitter rivalry and history of political betrayals.
“If he truly wants to return, he must humble himself and reconcile with Ganduje first,” Aruwa said.
Reacting to the feud, political analyst, Dr. Ibrahim Aliyu, told ireport247new.com that the back-and-forth underscores the significance of Kwankwaso’s political clout, especially in northern Nigeria.
“Both parties are aware that Kwankwaso remains a formidable force in Kano and the North-west. Whether or not he returns to APC, this debate signals the beginning of realignments ahead of the 2027 polls,” Aliyu noted.
He also pointed out that the APC’s overtures could be a strategy to weaken the NNPP, which emerged as a strong contender in the 2023 general elections, winning Kano State and gaining national attention.
As the dust settles, it remains uncertain whether Kwankwaso will heed the APC’s call or remain steadfast with the NNPP. What is clear, however, is that his political decisions will significantly influence Nigeria’s political trajectory in the coming years.